Officer Ray Ricci from Telford and his family.

The Montgomery Township Board of Supervisors welcomed two young recruits to the police force this week, one of them a graduate of Souderton Area High School.

Mason Strauss and Louis “Ray” Ricci were sworn in by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera at the Board meeting on Monday evening. Strauss and Ricci’s first day of work was on Tuesday.

Officer Mason Strauss, Chief Scott Bendig and Officer Ray Ricci.
Montgomery Township Police Department Facebook

Montgomery Township Police Chief Scott Bendig informed supervisors that a hiring process was held on January 29, 2024, to fill vacancies in the Patrol Division. The Police Department received 31 applications for the Police Officer Recruit position as part of the hiring process.

Bendig said a second recruitment process took place on March 17, with 23 applicants competing for another police recruit position.

“These Police Department hiring processes include a written exam or resume review, a physical agility test, two oral boards of examination and a background investigation, including a polygraph test, neighborhood and employer interviews,” he said. “The best candidates from each hiring process … will go before the board tonight for consideration for appointment as police recruiter,” Bendig said.

New Montgomery Township Police Recruiting Officer Louis “Ray” Ricci was sworn in by Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Candyce Chimera.
Montgomery Township Police Department Facebook

New MTPD recruiting officer Ray Ricci and his father.
Montgomery Township Police Department Facebook

Ray Ricci stands with Montgomery Township Police Chief Scott Bendig, Supervisor Tanya Bamford, Strauss’ mother, Vice Supervisor Audrey R. Ware and Supervisor Chair Candyce Chimera.
Montgomery Township Police Department Facebook

Strauss is a Downingtown, Pennsylvania, native and Downingtown West High School graduate. Bendig said Strauss worked in the construction industry before completing his Act 120 certification at the Delaware County Police Academy in June.

Mason Strauss, New Montgomery Township Police Department recruiting officer.
Montgomery Township Police Department Facebook

Mason Strauss stands with Montgomery Township Police Chief Scott Bendig, Supervisor Tanya Bamford, Strauss’ mother, Vice Supervisor Chair Audrey R. Ware and Supervisor Chair Candyce Chimera.
Montgomery Township Police Department Facebook

MTPD Chief Scott Bendig and Recruiting Officer Mason Strauss.
Montgomery Township Police Department Facebook

MTPD Chief Scott Bendig and Officer Ray Ricci
Montgomery Township Police Department Facebook

Ricci, who goes by “Ray,” is a Telford native and graduated from Souderton Area High School. He then graduated from Gwynedd Mercy College with a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice, Bendig said. Ricci completed his Act 120 certification at the Montgomery County Police Academy in June.

“We are excited to welcome you,” said Chimera. “We love our police department and are excited to have you be part of such a great group at the department.”