Bristol Borough will be hiring a new Chief of Police as the position has been offered to one of it’s own according to multiple sources with knowledge of the offer.

Officer in Charge, Seargeant  Joe Moors will be the borough’s new police chief the multiple sources told Lower Bucks Source late Tuesday night.

The sources said Moors will be sworn in as Chief at the April Bristol Borough Council Meeting.

Late Wednesday night, Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe confirmed Moors was offered the job

“It’s no secret” he said.

We went through all the interviews and got the number of candidates down from seven to five- two took other jobs- and council, the mayor, our solicitor, all agreed the man who has been serving this community is the right man for the job, DiGuiseppe said.

We offered Joe the position and let the other candidates know our decision.

The process is a contract that needs to be negotiated and approved by both parties -Council in a public meeting. I believe this is premature, until an agreement is signed by both parties, said Borough Manage James Dillon Thursday.

Moors, who has been with the department for over three decades was once called the “consummate street cop and street Sgt” by now retired Chief of Police, Steve Henry.

The position opened up when former Police Chief Henry announced his retirement last year. 

Council in November, said Moors would lead the department as the Officer in Charge while they advertised the Chief of Police position.

In February the process kicked into high gear, as borough officials reviewed potential candidates for the job, which Borough Manager Jim Dillon said about 24 candidates applied for.

At Moors 25th anniversary celebration with the department Mayor Joseph Saxton called Moors one helluva a leader.

Moors was hired by the department in 1992, when Judge Frank W. Peranteau Sr. was leading the department.

He was the judges first hire as Chief of Police

Moors hiring also impacts the police department in two additional ways as he is currently the President of the Borough Police Benevolent Association, which means Chuck Palmer, current vice president, will be elevated to the presidents role. Additionally, Palmer will now become a Sgt for the department, which he was elevated to the acting role in February.

When you talk about community policing. And if you’re involved in law enforcement…its the community aspect of what Joe can do. He gets out of the car and talks to with people There is not a person in the community that doesn’t know Joe. said Henry at Moors 25th anniversary celebration with the police depatment.

Saxton has praised Moors work while stepping into the Officer in Charge role a number of times at council meetings also/

Moors, over the years this reporter has known him, has always openly expressed his love for Bristol and its residents and doing police work to protect the residents.

As of 11:45 pm Wednesday night, Moors did not respond to requests for comment.

Lower Bucks Source expects to update this story Thursday.