Bristol Twp. Hires Public Safety Director

To the surprise of its own police officers, Bristol Township announced the hiring of a public safety director Friday afternoon.

Officers and township employees were informed via email around noon Friday that retired Ewing, New Jersey, police Chief Robert A. Coulton will fill the position created by Bristol Township Council late last year. Coulton is expected to start his job on Monday.

Coulton, who served with Ewing police for 30 years, comes to Bristol Township after retiring from the New Jersey department in 2013. At his previous post, Coulton oversaw 67 officers during his 14 years as chief.

Township Manager Bill McCauley, who was said to be in a meeting when a reporter called for comment, remarked in a statement that Coulton met the list of requirements for the newly-created position.

Coulton’s bio, according to Bristol Township:

Mr. Coulton is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, New Jersey Executive Police Institute and holds advanced certification as a Chief Law Enforcement Executive from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Certified Law Enforcement Executive Program. He has a Master’s degree from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from the College of New Jersey.

“This is a tremendous hire for Bristol Township and our police department will excel under his leadership,” McCauley said.

Currently, Acting Chief Sgt. Ralph Johnson is leading the roughly 60 member department that patrols Bristol Township and keeps its 54,000 residents safe. As of press time, there was no word as to what would happen to Johnson.

Last year, township officials said the public safety director position would oversee the police department and possibly parts of the fire marshal’s office. The public safety director would report directly to McCauley and council.

In 2014, Bristol Township Police Benevolent Association President Tim Fuhrmann said the hiring announcement was “interesting.” He also called into question whether the community’s status as a First Class Township would allow it to hire a public safety director and not have a sworn police chief or superintendent.

It was unclear as of Friday afternoon whether a police chief would remain along with the new public safety director position. Several sources inside the township have speculated that the new position was created to get rid of the chief’s position.

A police officer, who did not wish to be named for fear of retribution for speaking with a reporter, said earlier this week that the public safety director speculation had died down in recent weeks.

The hiring of a public safety director was not mentioned at Wednesday night’s council meeting.

The township building on Bath Road became a house divided earlier this year after a grand jury wrote a scathing report that outlined ways McCauley took advantage of an unfortunate incident involving a vehicle crash caused by a police officer who was drinking – but not intoxicated – trying to harm the career of some department members.

Since McCauley took office in 2012, he has had a rocky relationship with police. Both sides have taken shots at each other and McCauley has said the most recent police contract was letting the “inmates run the prison,” citing the generous benefits and other terms put forward by an arbitrator. McCauley has notably worked to improve Bristol Township’s financial situation and improve township infrastructure by paving roads, fixing the aging administrative building and upgrading the public works complex.

In the grand jury’s report, they noted Johnson was not qualified to become chief. However, Johnson does have a good reputation with the community and does have experience working as a narcotics investigator and shift sergeant.

In Lower Bucks County, the only community to have a public safety director is Bensalem. Its police department is overseen by Fred Harran.

Bristol Township has been without a permanent top cop since former Chief James McAndrew went on medical leave in 2013. McAndrew officially retired July 1. Lt. John Godzieba served as acting chief until December when he was removed from the role and Johnson was promoted to the interim position in December.

LevittownNow.com was not immediately able to get in touch with Coulton, Fuhrmann or Johnson.