Todd Matsumoto has been appointed Chief Constable of Surrey Police Service (SPS), effective October 30, 2026, the Surrey Police Board announced Friday, making permanent the leadership role he has held on an interim basis since June.
The appointment follows a national executive search and a community and stakeholder engagement process, according to the board’s October 30 media release.
A national search and community consultation
The board said the recruitment process was led by an executive search firm and included consultation on the challenges facing Surrey Police Service and the qualities sought in its next chief constable.
Board Chair Perm Jawanda said the board is confident Matsumoto is the right leader to guide the service as it continues building what it described as a strong, modern and effective police organization for Surrey.
More than 30 years in municipal policing
Matsumoto has more than three decades of leadership experience in municipal policing and public safety. The board said he has held leadership roles in several major initiatives during the history of Surrey Police Service.
He assumed the role of Interim Chief Constable in June 2026, following a leadership transition at the service. The board said he brought stability during a period of organizational change, strengthened relationships and played an instrumental role in the successful renewal of the collective agreement with the Surrey Police Union.
Transparency and community relationships remain priorities
In the board’s announcement, Matsumoto said he was honoured to continue leading the service. He identified the people working at SPS and its relationship with the community as its greatest assets, and said his focus would remain on transparency, consistent communication and relationship-based leadership.
Sergeant Ryan Buhrig, president of the Surrey Police Union, welcomed the appointment. The union said it believes Matsumoto is the right person for the position and described the decision as a positive signal to its members.
What happens next for Surrey Police Service?
Matsumoto’s appointment provides permanent leadership after the interim transition that began in June. He will lead SPS as it continues its work on public safety, organizational development and its relationship with Surrey residents and community partners.
The board’s announcement does not set out a new timetable or additional operational changes tied to the appointment.
Source: Surrey Police Board media release, October 30, 2026.
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Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving multilingual diaspora communities across Canada. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
