UPDATED: Bristol Twp. Makes Public Safety Director Chief

UPDATED: 10:21 p.m., Thursday: 

Robert A. Coulton’s public introduction as Bristol Township’s new chief was made during Thursday’s Council meeting.

With township officers and command staff looking on, Coulton was welcomed to his new position. Police chiefs from Bristol Borough, Langhorne and Middletown were also in attendance along with Coulton’s family.

Council President Craig Bowen joked that he liked Coulton being named chief because his new job title is easier to say than public safety director.

The Council meeting was halted for a few minutes so cake celebrating the longtime lawman’s promotion could be enjoyed.

“The Bristol Township Police Benevolent Association (PBA) supports the decision of the Bristol Township Council to appoint Robert A. Coulton as the Chief of Police of the Bristol Township Police Department,” Detective Tim Fuhrmann, head of the police union, told LevittownNow.com.

Original Story: 

Bristol Township has a chief of police after going more than two years without one.

Township Manager Bill McCauley said via written statement Thursday afternoon that Public Safety Director Robert A. Coulton has been hired as chief.

According to the statement, Coulton will earn $125,000 per year with no paid health benefits or pension.

Coulton has worked as public safety director of the township since spring 2015 but remained an unsworn member of the department for much of that time. As LevittownNow.com exclusively reported last summer, the township began to take steps to make him a sworn member of the department and to make him chief.

Coulton, who served with Ewing, New Jersey, police for 30 years, was hired by 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.

While he wasn’t chief of the township department, he oversaw the roughly 60-officer-strong operation. Until Coulton’s recent promotion, the highest ranking sworn officials were Lt. John Godzieba, Lt. Terry Hughes and Lt. Ralph Johnson.

As chief, Coulton now has authorization to enforce township ordinances and state law and make arrests. He will also be able to operate a township vehicle that has emergency lighting and a siren, which is something state law doesn’t allow for non-sworn law enforcement.

“Bob Coulton earned this appointment after 20 months of dedicated service and demonstrated leadership. Our police department will continue to excel under his leadership as Chief of Police,” McCauley said. “While I normally prefer civilian leadership of police departments, I have no reservations extending Civil Service protection to him.”

Coulton holds an advance certification as Chief Law Enforcement Executive from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Certified Law Enforcement Executive Program. In addition, he is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the New Jersey Executive Police Institute. He also has a master’s degree from Seton Hall University and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the College of New Jersey, a township press release said.

“During my time in Bucks County, I cannot remember Bristol Township having a professionally trained and educated chief of police,” McCauley said. “The township was extremely fortunate to attract someone with Bob Coulton’s education, training and experience.”

McCauley said he plans to keep Coulton at the department for the next 10 years.

The township manager, who has had a testy relationship with law enforcement, cited Coulton’s work to “create a more professional and transparent department.” He said Coulton has implemented a body-worn camera system and is helping the township gain Commission on Law Enforcement Accreditation certification.

The Bristol Township Police Benevolent Association (PBA) filed a lawsuit after they questioned the legality of the township replacing the police chief position for an unsworn public safety director, which they claimed violated the First-Class Township code that Bristol Township adheres by. The reasoning was not immediately clear, but the lawsuit was dropped last year.

In the past, township officials have brushed off the claim from PBA and said they were well within their rights to have a public safety director. Council members last year pointed to Bensalem, which has a public safety director, as an example to show the creation of the position was legal. However, Bensalem is governed under the Second-Class Township Code which is not the same at the code that Bristol Township uses.

Sources have said in the past that Coulton is respected by officers in the department and by township officials.