The Belmont Police Department recently swore in two new officers at Town Hall. Officers Emily Ricci and Robert Ludwig will begin working for the department immediately, according to Police Chief Shane Smith.
Ricci and Ludwig are among the first officers Smith has hired since he became chief on May 4. Both were sworn in at Town Hall on Monday, Aug. 3
Ricci graduated with a degree in psychology from the University of South Carolina in 2020. She spent three years at the Richland County Sheriff’s Department in South Carolina, serving as a patrol officer and as a field training officer. She joined the Belmont Police Department in 2024 as a dispatcher. During this time, she earned a master’s degree in forensic psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
After being a dispatcher for two and a half years, Ricci said it will be “nice to transition back into the patrol world … work with the town of Belmont [and] meet everybody. [I’m] looking forward to it.”
Ludwig, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a degree in criminal justice. He began his law enforcement career in the Dracut Police Department. He was previously a firearms instructor and patrol officer for the Carlisle Police Department before coming to Belmont.
“[I’m] super excited to be here. I know everyone’s excited with the direction the new chief is taking [and I’m] happy to be a part of it,” Ludwig, who is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, told The Voice.
The department received 53 applications for these positions, but Ricci and Ludwig stood out among the rest, Smith said.
“There’s a really good culture at Belmont PD. It’s a family-first culture,” said Smith in his remarks to the audience after the swearing-in. “We look forward to the positive impact [Ricci and Ludwig will] make on this community. Welcome to the Belmont Police family.”
