B.C.’s director of policing called in after release of messages between Surrey police chief and city councillor
Coun. Linda Annis was getting involved in where police performed check stops for impaired driving, an FOI from Global News revealed
By Sobia Moman
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The province’s public safety minister has brought in her director of policing to assess whether any follow-up is needed after correspondence between Surrey’s police chief and a city councillor related to impaired-driving enforcement action outside a local golf course became public.
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This week, Global News aired a story citing text messages and emails between Surrey First Coun. Linda Annis and the city’s police chief Norm Lipinski that were obtained through a freedom of information request. Some of the correspondence, according to the story, showed that the councillor had forwarded complaints about impaired driving checks taking place outside the Morgan Creek Golf Course in South Surrey. Annis lives and owns a property in the neighbourhood.
In one reply, Lipinski responds to Annis that, “Yes, we stopped setting up there.” The Global story said the chief relayed the complaints to subordinates and indicated it “requires an elevated response.”
The story posed the question whether the exchanges indicated political interference.
“After Surrey Police Service conducted impaired driving enforcement outside of Morgan Creek Golf Course in July 2025, questions arose regarding how and why SPS chose this particular location,” Surrey police told Postmedia in an email.
“Conversations were had with both Morgan Creek Golf Course and Councillor Annis to explain the data-driven factors that SPS uses to determine enforcement locations.”
Those factors include “community complaints and tips,” “observed behaviour by officers,” and “proximity to alcohol-serving venues where police believe impaired driving may reasonably originate.”
In the summer of 2025, SPS’s Impaired Driving Unit conducted impaired driving enforcement at numerous locations around the City of Surrey, the email said. The police service confirmed officers did stop performing enforcement action immediately outside Morgan Creek, but continued a check stop nearby, on 32 Avenue.
The SPS said it also implemented a prevention approach with the golf course, but would not comment further on the matter, stating that the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner has received requests to investigate the situation.
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That office did not respond to Postmedia by deadline to confirm if the commissioner is investigating.
Nina Krieger, B.C.’s public safety minister and solicitor general, was not made available for an interview, but the minister said in a statement she has spoken with Glen Lewis, the province’s director of policing and law enforcement services.
“Policing decisions, including the placement of impaired-driving check stops, are operational matters and must remain independent. It is my expectation that all police agencies act in accordance with the law and established standards, policies and guidelines,” she said.
Her statement went on to say: “I have asked the director of policing and law enforcement services to continue to monitor this situation and to give consideration to any additional steps that may be necessary or appropriate.” She did not elaborate on what those steps might be.
Annis could not be reached for comment, but denied to Global there was any attempt at political interference.
“I was talking about many other golf courses as well,” she said.
The city denied an interview request with Mayor Brenda Locke, who campaigned in the last election on stopping the transition to the Surrey Police and instead keeping the RCMP as the city’s police force.
Surrey instead sent a statement from Rob Costanzo, the city’s manager. Costanzo called Lipinski’s actions “very serious misconduct” and said it may have put the public’s safety at risk.
“The city has expressed our concerns to the province and are awaiting information about how they plan to address this very serious matter,” he said.
Costanzo did not answer whether Annis would receive any repercussions as a result of her involvement in the matter, only acknowledging Lipinski’s role.
Annis is running against Locke for mayor in the municipal election later this year.
