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.
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.
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.
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.”