Bristol Mayor Sues Council Over Control Of Police Department

Bristol Borough Mayor Frank Peranteau has taken his disagreement with borough council to court by filing his complaint in a lawsuit in the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas.

The lawsuit, which was filed last week, seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to invalidate council actions, including a newly revised internal affairs policy.

Peranteau contends the measures usurp statutory authority granted exclusively to the mayor under Pennsylvania’s Borough Code.

LevittownNow.com first reported in May that the mayor was taking steps toward legal action after a public clash over the May termination of a longtime police officer.

Named as defendants are the Bristol Borough Council, Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe, Vice President Betty Rodriguez, and council members Bryan Johnson, Greg Pezza, Lee Cousin, Lorraine Cullen, Louis Quattrocchi, and Maria Figueroa.

The lawsuit comes after administrative and disciplinary proceedings involving Officer Ritchie Webb Jr., who was placed on leave after an April 2025 fatal train incident.

In early February, Webb sent an email to borough leadership alleging retaliation and misconduct within the police department, according to the lawsuit.

From May: Bristol Mayor, Council Clash Over Termination Of ‘Whistleblower’ Officer

DiGuiseppe referred the claims to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and retained external legal counsel, Campbell Durrant, P.C., to conduct a non-criminal internal investigation.

The district attorney’s office has not commented on whether any investigations exist.

Tensions mounted on March 8 when Peranteau issued written directives to Chief of Police Joe Moors and Webb. Citing his statutory authority over the police force, the mayor ordered Webb not to participate in council’s external probe, instructed that all communications regarding Webb’s fitness-for-duty medical exam be routed through the mayor’s office, and directed Moors to have no contact with Webb about the investigation.

In letters dated March 9 and March 10, DiGuiseppe notified Peranteau and Webb that council had countermanded the mayor’s orders. Writing “on behalf of Borough Council,” DiGuiseppe asserted council’s ultimate administrative authority over the chief and police discipline, ordering Webb to report for interviews with outside counsel and attend a rescheduled medical exam, according to the lawsuit.

On March 24, council formally adopted a resolution establishing a revised Internal Affairs Policy for the department. The lawsuit contends the policy shifts operational oversight from the mayor to council or its designated investigators, grants council designees power to place officers on administrative leave, and sets council as the exclusive authority over officer discipline.

Peranteau argues in the lawsuit that the resolution is preempted by state law. The complaint cites the Pennsylvania Borough Code, which states the mayor “shall have full charge and control” of the chief of police and the police force, including directing the time, place, and manner of their duties. Peranteau maintains that while council has the power to create a police force, set total hours, and designate ranks, operational supervision belongs strictly to the mayor.

The filing from the mayor further asserts that making such permanent structural changes via a simple resolution violates statutory procedures. Under state law, permanent rules governing municipal administration must be enacted through ordinances, requiring public advertisement, recording, and presentment to the mayor for approval or veto.

The complaint also accuses council of violating Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act by taking official action in secret. Peranteau alleges council members deliberated and voted to countermand his mayoral directives during a private executive session prior to their March 9 public meeting, noting no public vote or discussion on the matter appears in official agendas or minutes.

The lawsuit further notes that outside legal counsel was retained and actively investigating weeks before council formally voted to confirm the firm’s engagement at the March 9 public meeting.

Peranteau is asking the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas to declare the revised Internal Affairs Policy void and unconstitutional under state law, reaffirm that supervision and operational control of the police department reside with the mayor, declare council’s March countermands and direct operational orders to police personnel null and void, enjoin council from issuing direct operational commands to police officers or appointing non-mayoral supervisors over the department, and award the mayor attorney fees and court costs.

Peranteau, the borough’s former police chief and district judge, was sworn in as mayor in January.

The defendants have 20 days from service of the complaint to file a formal court response.

Borough officials and council members did not respond to requests for comment.

No hearing date had been set as of Monday.