Mo. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 590
Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 590.080 (2026)

Discipline of peace officers, grounds

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  590.080.  Discipline of peace officers, grounds — complaint filed, hearing. — 1.  As used in this section, the following terms shall mean:

  (1)  "Gross misconduct", includes any willful and wanton or unlawful conduct motivated by premeditated or intentional purpose or by purposeful indifference to the consequences of one's acts;

  (2)  "Moral turpitude", the wrongful quality shared by acts of fraud, theft, bribery, illegal drug use, sexual misconduct, and other similar acts as defined by the common law of Missouri;

  (3)  "Reckless disregard", a conscious disregard of a substantial risk that circumstances exist or that a result will follow, and such failure constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable peace officer would exercise in the situation.

  2.  The director shall have cause to discipline any peace officer licensee who:

  (1)  Is unable to perform the functions of a peace officer with reasonable competency or reasonable safety;

  (2)  Has committed any criminal offense, whether or not a criminal charge has been filed, has been convicted, or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, in a criminal prosecution under the laws of any state, or the United States, or of any country, regardless of whether or not sentence is imposed;

  (3)  Has committed any act that involves moral turpitude or a reckless disregard for the safety of the public or any person;

  (4)  Has caused a material fact to be misrepresented for the purpose of obtaining or retaining a peace officer commission or any license issued pursuant to this chapter;

  (5)  Has violated a condition of any order of probation lawfully issued by the director;

  (6)  Has violated a provision of this chapter or a rule promulgated pursuant to this chapter;

  (7)  Has tested positive for a controlled substance, as defined in chapter 195, without a valid prescription for the controlled substance, except as otherwise provided by law or by any provision of the Constitution of Missouri;

  (8)  Is subject to an order of another state, territory, the federal government, or any peace officer licensing authority suspending or revoking a peace officer license or certification; or

  (9)  Has committed any act of gross misconduct indicating inability to function as a peace officer.

  3.  When the director has knowledge of cause to discipline a peace officer license pursuant to this section, the director may cause a complaint to be filed with the administrative hearing commission, which shall conduct a hearing to determine whether the director has cause for discipline, and which shall issue findings of fact and conclusions of law on the matter.  The administrative hearing commission shall not consider the relative severity of the cause for discipline or any rehabilitation of the licensee or otherwise impinge upon the discretion of the director to determine appropriate discipline when cause exists pursuant to this section.

  4.  Upon a finding by the administrative hearing commission that cause to discipline exists, the director shall, within thirty days, hold a hearing to determine the form of discipline to be imposed and thereafter shall probate, suspend, or permanently revoke the license at issue.  If the licensee fails to appear at the director's hearing, this shall constitute a waiver of the right to such hearing.

  5.  Notice of any hearing pursuant to this chapter or section may be made by certified mail to the licensee's address of record pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection 3 of section 590.130*.  Proof of refusal of the licensee to accept delivery or the inability of postal authorities to deliver such certified mail shall be evidence that required notice has been given.  Notice may be given by publication.

  6.  Nothing contained in this section shall prevent a licensee from informally disposing of a cause for discipline with the consent of the director by voluntarily surrendering a license or by voluntarily submitting to discipline.

  7.  The provisions of chapter 621 and any amendments thereto, except those provisions or amendments that are in conflict with this chapter, shall apply to and govern the proceedings of the administrative hearing commission and pursuant to this section the rights and duties of the parties involved.

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(L. 2001 H.B. 80, A.L. 2023 S.B. 186)

*Section 590.130 was repealed by H.B. 80, 2001.

(2019)  Section involving grounds for disciplining a peace officer does not violate the separation of powers; the authority given the Administrative Hearing Commission to make a factual determination does not include adjudication of the licensee's criminal liability or imposition of criminal punishment.  O'Brien v. Department of Public Safety, 589 S.W.3d 560 (Mo.banc).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 2009–2019 · leading case: Schumer v. Lee, 404 S.W.3d 443 (Mo. Ct. App. 2013).
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Schumer v. Lee, 404 S.W.3d 443 (Mo. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 9× “Analysis Due to the procedural posture of this appeal (review of the agency decision), *447 Schumer — as the aggrieved party — submitted his appellate brief first and raised seven points on appeal: (1) and (2) that the disciplinary statute, § 590.080, and the process employed by…”
Wells v. Dir. of Pub. Saf., 295 S.W.3d 597 (Mo. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “To the extent they do not conflict, the provisions of Chapter 621 govern the proceedings of the AHC in section 590.080 disciplinary proceedings.”
Justin D. O'Brien v. Dep't of Pub. Saf., 589 S.W.3d 560 (Mo. 2019). · cites it 6× “O’Brien asserts two challenges: (1) that section 590.080, 1 under which the AHC may find that cause for discipline exists if the licensee has “committed any criminal offense, whether or not a criminal charge has been filed” is invalid because it violates principles of separation…”
Mo. Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Troupe, 555 S.W.3d 475 (Mo. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 4× “Regardless of any ruling by this court on the discovery order, the parties' dispute on the merits of the Section 590.080 disciplinary action will proceed to a hearing before the AHC and a final agency decision that may be judicially reviewed pursuant to Section 536.”
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