Bristol Twp. Creates Deputy Police Chief Job & Fills It With Department Veteran

A longtime Bristol Township police official has been promoted to the newly-created job of deputy police chief.

Lt. Ralph Johnson was promoted to the job by Bristol Township Council at last Thursday’s meeting as officials and his family looked on.

Deputy Chief Johnson has served with the department since February 1986. He has served as a patrol officer, a dog handler, a detective, a narcotics investigator, and was assigned to a federal task force. Johnson became acting chief in 2014 and 2015 before becoming lieutenant the next year.

Amid command staff retirements, Johnson oversaw multiple functions of the police department in recent years. He has been able to take the new deputy chief job as the department recently appointed two new lieutenants.

Johnson, a husband, father, and grandfather from the area, helped current Chief of Police Robert Coulton transition to the department as he was hired after a career in New Jersey.

“He has never waivered with the task at hand, whether large or small,” Coulton said.

The chief said his new deputy chief has assisted with numerous duties, including giving him recommendations on where to get a bite to eat.

Coulton said Ralph is a colleague and friend who often talks about family.

District Judge Kevin Wagner swore him in while Johnson’s son Andrew held the bible.

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