MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE NEWS

Souderton grad, Telford native one of two sworn in as new Montgomery Township Police officers

Louis "Ray" Ricci joins Mason Strauss, of Downingtown, as a recruit officer.

OFficer Ray Ricci, of Telford, and his family.

Louis "Ray" Ricci joins Mason Strauss, of Downingtown, as a recruit officer.

  • Public Safety

Montgomery Township Supervisors this week welcomed to young recruits to the police force, one of which is a Souderton Area High School graduate.

Mason Strauss and Louis “Ray” Ricci were sworn in Monday night at the supervisors meeting by Supervisors Chair Candyce Fluehr Chimera. Strauss and Ricci’s first day was on Tuesday.

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

Montgomery Township Police Chief Scott Bendig told supervisors that a recruit hiring process took place on Jan. 29, 2024 to fill vacancies within the patrol division. The police department received 31 applications for the Recruit Police Officer position in the hiring process.

Bendig said a second recruit hiring process took place on March 17, with 23 applicants competing for an other Recruit Police Officer position.

“These police department hiring processes include a written examination or resume review, a physical agility test, two police oral review boards, and a background investigation, including a polygraph examination, neighborhood interviews, and employer interviews,” he said. “The top candidates from each hiring process … are before the board this evening for consideration for appointment to the position of Recruit Police Officer,” Bendig said.

    New Montgomery Township Police Recruit Officer Louis "Ray" Ricci sworn in by Supervisors Chair Candyce Chimera.
 Montgomery Township Police Facebook 
 
 
    New MTPD Recruit OFficer Ray Ricci and his father.
 Montgomery Township Police Facebook 
 
 
    Ray Ricci standing with Montgomery Township Police Chief Scott Bendig, Supervisor Tanya Bamford, Strauss's mother, Supervisors Vice Chair Audrey R. Ware, and Supervisors Chair Candyce Chimera.
 Montgomery Township Police Facebook 
 
 

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

    New Montgomery Township Police Recruit Officer Mason Strauss.
 Montgomery Township Police Facebook 
 
 
    Mason Strauss standing with Montgomery Township Police Chief Scott Bendig, Supervisor Tanya Bamford, Strauss's mother, Supervisors Vice Chair Audrey R. Ware, and Supervisors Chair Candyce Chimera.
 Montgomery Township Police Facebook 
 
 
    MTPD Chief Scott Bendig and Recruit Officer Mason Strauss.
 Montgomery Township Police Facebook 
    MTPD Chief Scott Bendig and Officer Ray Ricci
 Montgomery Township Police Facebook 
 
 
 

Ricci, who goes by “Ray,” is a native of Telford and graduated Souderton Area High School. He went on to graduate from Gwynedd Mercy College with a bachelor’s of science in criminal justice, Bendig said. Ricci completed his Act 120 certification in June at Montgomery County Police Academy.

“We are happy to welcome you,” said Chimera. “We love our police department and we’re glad you get to be part of such a great, great group in the department.”

    



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Tony Di Domizio

Tony Di Domizio is the Managing Editor of NorthPennNow, PerkValleyNow, and CentralBucksNow, and a staff writer for WissNow. Email him at [email protected]. Tony graduated from Kutztown University and went on to serve as a reporter and editor for various news organizations, including Patch/AOL, The Reporter in Lansdale, Pa., and The Morning Call in Allentown, Pa. He was born and raised in and around Lansdale and attended North Penn High School. Lansdale born. St. Patrick's Day, 1980.