Veteran Officer Elevated To Rank Of Lieutenant In Bristol

Council President Ralph DiGiuseppe, Lt. Elifa Soto, and Chief Joe Moors. Credit: Bristol Borough

Bristol Borough is elevating a longtime officer to the role of lieutenant, a post which is new to the rank structure.

Officer Elifa Soto was promoted to lieutenant by Bristol Borough Council Monday evening.

Soto, a 24-year veteran of the Bristol Borough Police Department, was sworn in by District Judge Terry Hughes to assume the role.

Chief of Police Joe Moors said the new rank is necessary for the department, which operates with 10 full-time and five part-time officers, as several veteran officers will become eligible for retirement in 2026.

“The chain of command is one of the most essential elements of an effective police department,” Moors told the council. “It establishes a clear structure of authority, responsibility and communication, ensuring that decisions are made efficiently and that accountability is maintained at every level.”

Moors said the job will help better link the department’s command staff with patrol officers and sergeants.

The role includes providing direct supervision while assisting the chief with administrative duties and operational oversight.

Moors praised Soto’s background and said the new lieutenant brings a diverse skill set to the leadership role.

Soto’s credentials include experience as a former SWAT hostage negotiator, specialized training in undercover drug enforcement, crime scene processing, and crisis intervention training. He has also completed FBI leadership, command supervision, and executive training, and currently serves as both an active Bucks County Major Incident Response Team officer and as a sworn Bucks County narcotics detective.

“He brings with him a diverse and extensive background that will serve this department well in a leadership capacity,” Moors said.

Moors highlighted Soto’s bilingual ability—he is fluent in both English and Spanish—as a “critical asset in a diverse and growing community like ours” that has supported collaborative operations with local, state and federal agencies.

When asked about the lieutenant’s duties, Moors explained Soto will serve as a working lieutenant rather than solely in an administrative capacity.

The timing of the promotion comes ahead of several officers being eligible to retie in 2026.

“It’s very important that we have strong leadership,” Moors said. “And Officer Soto has assured me that he is not going anywhere anytime soon. He loves being here, he loves his community, and he continues to work, want to work far into the future here.”

During his remarks after being sworn in, Soto thanked officials and the community.

“I am deeply honored to accept this position,” Soto said. “As a longtime and dedicated officer, I take pride in serving our community. I want to sincerely thank the mayor here, chief of police, the borough of council, for their trust and support.”

He added that his primary objective is to “continue building transparency, trust and a strong partnership between our officers and the people we proudly serve.”

Soto acknowledged Moors and former detective Randy Morris as mentors when he first joined the department two decades ago.

Council Vice President Betty Rodriguez, who moved to approve Soto’s employment agreement, cited the promotion as important for the borough’s diversity.

“The fact that I’ve been here 22 years as the first Puerto Rican on this council is very important to me,” Figueroa said. “To see us grow as a community and to be diverse is very important to me.”

Bristol Borough Council President Ralph DiGiuseppe said municipal leadership have been talking about adding the role for a year.

“He’s a good cop, community leader, and we’re gonna be proud to call him lieutenant,” DiGiuseppe said.

Mayor-elect Frank Peranteau, who is the borough’s former chief of police, posted on social media that he hoped the council would table the vote to allow for further discussion. Peranteau, who will take office in January, said he was unaware of the new command position until days before the meeting and stated that the department is “divided.”

Editor’s Note: This article was updated to correct that a quote came from Council Vice President Betty Rodriguez, not Councilmember Maria Figueroa.

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