Mo. Rev. Stat. ch. 85

Mo. Rev. Stat. ch. 85
in effect

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 85.005 Mayor and police authorities can appoint none but residents.

85.005. Mayor and police authorities can appoint none but residents. — The mayor, chief of police and members of the board of police commissioners of any city in this state shall be governed by the same restrictions and subject to the same penalties as a sheriff of any county, under the provisions of section 57.117 . (RSMo 1939 § 4628) Prior revisions: 1929 § 4239; 1919 § 3486; 1909 § 4701

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 85.011 Procedure upon dismissal, demotion, suspension, certain officers.

85.011. Procedure upon dismissal, demotion, suspension, certain officers. — Any law enforcement officer, other than an elected sheriff or deputy, who possesses the duty and power of arrest for violations of the criminal laws of this state or for violations of ordinances of counties or municipalities of this state, who is regularly employed for more than thirty hours per week, and who is employed by a law enforcement agency of this state or political subdivision of this state which employs more than fifteen law enforcement officers, shall be given upon written request a meeting within forty-eight hours of a dismissal, disciplinary demotion or suspension that results in a reduction or withholding of salary or compensatory time. The meeting shall be held before any individual or board as designated by the governing body. At any such meeting, the employing law enforcement agency shall at a minimum provide a brief statement, which may be oral, of the reason of the discharge, disciplinary demotion or suspension, and permit the law enforcement officer the opportunity to respond. The results from such meeting shall be reduced to writing. Any law enforcement agency that has substantially similar or greater procedures shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section. This section shall not apply to an officer serving in a probationary period or to the highest ranking officer of any law enforcement agency. Any law enforcement officer employed by the state shall not be subject to the provisions of this section. (L. 1990 H.B. 948 § 1) CROSS REFERENCE: Due process, police on disciplinary actions, 590.500

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 85.012 Municipal fire department may contract with private companies for fire ...

85.012. Municipal fire department may contract with private companies for fire protection, vote required. — 1. After August 28, 1999, municipal fire departments may contract with a private company to provide fire protection service only if a majority of voters of the municipality authorize such action at a public election. 2. The ballot of submission shall be in substantially the following form: 3. If a majority of the votes cast on the proposal by the qualified voters voting thereon are in favor of the proposal, then the ordinance shall be in effect as provided in this section. 4. If a majority of the votes cast on the proposal by the qualified voters voting thereon are opposed to the proposal, then the municipality shall have no power to contract with any private company for the provision of fire protection service. (L. 1999 H.B. 352 § 1)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 85.541 Merit system police department, adoption - requirements of ordinance.

85.541. Merit system police department, adoption — requirements of ordinance. — 1. Any city of the third class may by ordinance adopt a merit system police department. Such police department shall have a chief of police, and may have a deputy chief of police, and such number of regular policemen of such rank or grade as may be prescribed by ordinance. 2. Any ordinance adopting the merit system police department within the meaning of sections 85.541 to 85.571 shall include the following provisions for the appointment, promotion, suspension, demotion or discharge of members of the police department: (1) A personnel board shall be created which shall be composed of not less than three, but not more than six members; (2) The personnel board shall be required to give examinations to candidates for appointment or promotion and to certify lists of eligibles to the mayor or other appointing authority; (3) The mayor or other appointing authority shall be required to appoint or promote from a list of eligibles so certified; (4) All persons so appointed or promoted shall be entitled to hold office during good behavior and efficient service; (5) Any person suspended, demoted or discharged for misbehavior or inefficiency shall, upon his application, be granted a public hearing before the personnel board. (L. 1955 p. 290 § 1, A.L. 1997 H.B. 125)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 85.551 Marshal to be chief of police where department not adopted - assistants and ...

85.551. Marshal to be chief of police where department not adopted — assistants and policemen appointed under ordinance — removal. — 1. In cities of the third class which shall not have adopted the merit system police department provided for in sections 85.541 to 85.571 , the marshal shall be the chief of police, and there also may be one assistant marshal, who shall serve for a term of one year and who shall be deputy chief of police; such number of regular policemen as may be deemed necessary by the council for the good government of the city, who shall serve for terms of one year; and such number of special policemen as may be prescribed by ordinance, to serve for such time as may be prescribed by ordinance. 2. The manner of appointing the assistant marshal and all policemen of the city shall be prescribed by ordinance. The council shall also, by ordinance, provide for the removal of any marshal, assistant marshal or policeman guilty of misbehavior in office. 3. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the council to remove or discharge any chief, as that term is defined in section 106.273 . (L. 1955 p. 290 § 2, A.L. 2013 H.B. 307)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 85.561 Police officers, conservators of peace - supervision - powers and duties.

85.561. Police officers, conservators of peace — supervision — powers and duties. — 1. In all third class cities the members of the police department shall be conservators of the peace, and shall be active and vigilant in the preservation of good order within the city. 2. The chief of police shall, in the discharge of his duties, be subject to the orders of the mayor only; the deputy chief of police and all other members of the police department shall be subject to the orders of their superiors in the police department and the mayor only. 3. Every member of the police department shall have power at all times to make or order an arrest with proper process for any offense against the laws of the city or the state, and to keep the offender in the city prison or other proper place to prevent his escape until a trial can be had before the proper officer, unless such offender shall give a good and sufficient bond for his appearance for trial, and shall also have power to make arrests without process in all cases in which any offense against the laws of the city or the state shall be committed in his presence. Every member of the police department is also empowered to serve and execute all warrants, subpoenas, writs or other process issued by the judge hearing and determining municipal ordinance violation cases of the city at any place within the limits of the county or counties within which the city is located. Every member of the police department shall have the power to make or order an arrest in areas leased or owned by the municipality outside of the boundaries of such municipality. 4. It shall be the duty of the chief of police or in his absence the deputy chief of police to collect all fines assessed for violations of municipal ordinances if not otherwise collected and pay the same into the city treasury. (L. 1955 p. 290 § 3, A.L. 1978 H.B. 1634, A.L. 1982 S.B. 637, A.L. 1991 H.B. 462)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 85.571 Terms of officers unaffected by adoption of merit system.

85.571. Terms of officers unaffected by adoption of merit system. — Persons elected or appointed to office prior to the effective date of sections 85.541 to 85.571 and persons elected or appointed prior to an adoption of a merit system police department therein provided for shall continue in office for the remainder of the term for which they were elected or appointed. (L. 1955 p. 290 § 4)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 85.610 Marshal - powers.

85.610. Marshal — powers. — The marshal in cities of the fourth class shall be chief of police, and shall have power at all times to make or order an arrest, with proper process, for any offense against the laws of the city or of the state, and to keep the offender in the city prison or other proper place to prevent his escape until a trial can be had before the proper officer, unless such offender shall give a good and sufficient bond for his appearance for trial. The marshal shall also have power to make arrests without process, in all cases in which any offenses against the laws of the city or of the state shall be committed in his presence. (RSMo 1939 § 7125, A. 1949 H.B. 2034) Prior revisions: 1929 § 6975; 1919 § 8426; 1909 § 9328 CROSS REFERENCE: Police jurisdiction over city property outside city, 79.380 (1957) Marshal of city of fourth class has no authority under this section to make arrests for violation of city ordinance beyond city limits. City of Advance ex rel. Henley v. Maryland Casualty Co. (Mo.), 302 S.W.2d 28. (1988) Police officer of fourth class city not authorized to make arrest outside city limits even if offense committed in his presence or pursuit began in city. City of Fredericktown v. Bell, 761 S.W.2d 715 (Mo.App.).

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 85.620 Size of police force - powers.

85.620. Size of police force — powers. — The police of the city may be appointed in such numbers, for such times and in such manner as may be prescribed by ordinance. They shall have power to serve and execute all warrants, subpoenas, writs or other process, and to make arrests in the same manner as the marshal. They may exercise such powers in areas leased or owned by the municipality outside of the boundaries of such municipality. The marshal and policemen shall be conservators of the peace, and shall be active and vigilant in the preservation of good order within the city. (RSMo 1939 § 7126, A.L. 1990 H.B. 948, A.L. 1991 H.B. 462) Prior revisions: 1929 § 6976; 1919 § 8427; 1909 § 9329
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=85Fetched: 10/17/2026