New Mayor, New Police Chief Have United Focus In Bristol

In the past few months, Bristol has seen two appointments to the borough’s leadership team. Ralph DiGuiseppe III was sworn in as mayor in August; In April, then-police department Sgt. Joe Moors took the oath as the town’s new police chief.

DiGuiseppe took the position in August after the borough council voted to appoint him to the post, left vacant by the death of Mayor Joe Saxton in July. Moors replaced police Chief Steve Henry, who retired after several years in the borough. 

The new mayor, who is the son of borough council President Ralph DiGuiseppe Sr., said that he expects to have a professional working relationship with his father, even at times to agree to disagree on issues involving the town.

“I think our united focus, and the good working relationship I have always had with the council members, will best serve the taxpayers and the children of the town,” the mayor said.

The council president abstained from the vote for the mayoral appointment.

The younger DiGuiseppe is senior vice president of Long and Foster Real Estate in New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.

In the borough, the mayor’s responsibilities include overseeing the police department and, in the case of a tie vote in the council, casting the deciding vote. The mayor also acts as liaison with various outside committees.    

A lifelong resident of the borough, DiGuiseppe, 46, is a graduate of Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem Township. He earned a degree in finance from St. Joseph University in Philadelphia.

Like DiGuiseppe, Moors is a familiar face in town. DiGuiseppe has long followed politics, learning the political ropes over the years by attending council meetings, and by working on various candidates’ election campaigns.  

Moors has been a cop for 30 years, most of that time in the borough.

 The duo will strive to coordinate their goals to ensure safety and quality-of-life issues for borough residents. Moors said he looks forward to working with his new boss.

The mayor said that choosing Moors for the post was probably the “best decision” the town’s officials could have made because of the chief’s law enforcement experience and long held familiarity with Bristol.

And he always has the backs of his cops, the mayor added.  Moors accepts that trust, but mostly on behalf of his cops.

“Our department is hard working and approachable, persistent and motivated. They are experienced veterans because they have been here a long time,” he said.

The new mayor and chief took office at a time when the town was in mourning.

 DiGuiseppe followed the highly respected Mayor Joe Saxton, and Moors was still the interim chief in March when a borough resident, Martin Mack, was one of two state troopers killed in collision on I-95.

As acting chief, it was Moors’ duty to coordinate the viewing and funeral services involving the presence of hundreds of police officers from across the country, and the many civilians in attendance.

A situation both traumatic and tough to deal with, he said.

“You have to put your emotions aside at a time like that to show respect and dignity to the fallen officer, but it was also a real reminder of the dangers of the job,” the chief said.

In happier times, Moors is seen around town at as many events as he can get to, including parades, festivals, and more recently, a Halloween parade at St. Mark School.

He was recently spotted in uniform and helmet during a dayside shift of the department’s bike patrol.

“I want us to be visible, to assure those we serve that we are there,” he said.

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