Mo. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 84
Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 84.420 (2026)

Board of police

✓ current as of May 2026
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  84.420.  Board of police — duties, responsibilities, determination of policies. — 1.  The board of police commissioners shall have the duty and responsibility at all times of the day and night within the boundaries of these cities, and on other public property of these cities beyond the corporate limits thereof to*:

  (1)  Preserve the public peace;

  (2)  Prevent crime and arrest offenders;

  (3)  Protect the rights of persons and property;

  (4)  Guard the public health;

  (5)  Preserve order at every public election, and at all public meetings and places and on all public occasions;

  (6)  Prevent and remove nuisances on all streets, alleys, highways, waters, and other places;

  (7)  Provide a proper police force at fires for the protection of firemen and property;

  (8)  Protect transients at public wharves, airports, railway and bus stations;

  (9)  See that all laws relating to elections and to the observance of Sunday, and relating to pawnbrokers, intemperance, lotteries and lottery policies, vagrants, disorderly persons, and the public health are enforced;

  (10)  Suppress gambling and bawdyhouses, and every other manner and kind of disorder and offense against law and the public health; and

  (11)  Enforce all laws and ordinances passed, or which may hereafter be passed, by the common council of such cities, not inconsistent with the provisions of sections 84.350 to 84.860.

  2.  The board shall determine the policy and in fulfillment of the duties and responsibilities herein provided and to this end shall:

  (1)  Adopt rules and regulations not inconsistent herewith governing the conduct of such police department;

  (2)  Appoint a chief of police who shall be responsible to the board for the proper execution of the policies, duties, and responsibilities established for the administration of the police department;

  (3)  Act as a board of review in personnel disciplinary cases as provided in section 84.430;

  (4)  Appoint a secretary to the board who shall appoint the necessary clerical assistants to the secretary for the conduct of affairs relating purely to activities and affairs of the board, other than those delegated to the chief in sections 84.350 to 84.860.  The salary of the secretary shall be fixed by the board at not less than two thousand five hundred dollars nor more than three thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars per annum.  Salaries of clerical assistants shall be determined as herein provided in section 84.520 for other clerical employees;

  (5)  Have the power to provide for a business manager who shall also act as an assistant secretary to the board at a salary of not less than four thousand five hundred dollars nor more than six thousand six hundred dollars per annum;

  (6)  Provide for and employ such medical assistants, including police surgeons and police physicians, as the board may deem necessary to perform such duties as the board may prescribe for the care and health of policemen, officers of police, and employees;

  (7)  Retain or employ attorneys or other consultants as necessary to advise the board or the chief;

  (8)  Have the power to provide and contract for insurance benefits providing for health and medical coverage;

  (9)  Have the power to provide and contract for liability insurance coverage for officers and employees of the police department, insuring liabilities incurred during the performance of duty and in the scope of employment for the police department;

  (10)  Perform such other duties and exercise such other powers not inconsistent with the provisions of sections 84.350 to 84.860 as shall further the efficient and economical operation of the police department.

  3.  The provisions of chapter 287 governing workers' compensation may be extended to include the employees of the police department as herein provided.  The police department shall have authority by resolution to elect, under the provisions of section 287.030, to accept the provisions of chapter 287, and to pay compensation to its employees and uniformed officers of the department for injury or death arising out of and in the course of their employment in accordance with the provisions and restrictions as set forth in chapter 287.  The board shall adopt rules classifying the employees who may be eligible for compensation under this section and section 226.170, and its classification shall be decisive as to whether or not an employee falls within the definition of an employee eligible for compensation coverage under this section and section 226.170. In case the board shall elect to accept said provisions, it shall purchase insurance for such purpose.  The board shall have authority to perform such other duties as may be necessary or incidental effectually to carry out the purposes of this law.  No election of the board to come under the provisions of chapter 287 shall ever be construed as acknowledging or creating any liability in tort or as incurring other obligations or duties except only the duty and obligation of complying with the provisions of said chapter 287, so long as said board may elect to remain under the provisions of chapter 287.

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(RSMo 1939 § 7650, A.L. 1943 p. 727 § 7651, A.L. 1953 p. 304, A.L. 1958 2d Ex. Sess. p. 152, A.L. 1963 p. 133, A.L. 1978 S.B. 508)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 7507; 1919 § 8919; 1909 § 9771

*Word "to" does not appear in original rolls.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1958–2024 · leading case: Fantasma v. Kansas City, 913 S.W.2d 388 (Mo. Ct. App. 1996).
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Fantasma v. Kansas City, 913 S.W.2d 388 (Mo. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 12× “” The second count, labeled “Negligence Per Se,” asserted that the defendants breached their duty under § 84.420, RSMo 1994, and under “police guidelines and regulations,” by allowing the decedent to enter an “active crime scene” and by failing to take steps to protect him once…”
Curtis v. Bd. of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, 841 S.W.2d 259 (Mo. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 5× “Other sections of the statutes provide that the Board may remove, suspend, reprimand, reduce in rank or pay or impose a fine upon the officer for violations of department rules and regulations.”
Jordan v. Kelly, 223 F. Supp. 731 (W.D. Mo. 1963). · cites it 4× “Section 84.420 enumerates and defines the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Police Commissioners, among which are: “To Preserve the public peace; * * * ***** “See that all laws relating to elections and to the observance of Sunday, and relating to” pawn brokers,…”
Settle v. State, 679 S.W.2d 310 (Mo. Ct. App. 1984). · cites it 3× “Section 84.420 RSMo.1978 and Cumm.Supp. 1983.”
Vivona v. Zobrist, 290 S.W.3d 167 (Mo. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 3× “The Board’s enabling statute, section 84.420, sets forth the Board’s duties, responsibilities, and its authority to set policy.”
Trusler v. Tate, 941 S.W.2d 794 (Mo. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 4× “We must interpret it in light of other relevant statutes governing the actions of the Police Board and Police Department, including Section 84.420(2)(1). The latter statute permits the Department to “[a]dopt rules and regulations not inconsistent herewith governing the conduct…”
State v. Cantrell, 310 S.W.2d 866 (Mo. 1958). · cites it 2× “” Among the duties and responsibilities imposed upon police commissioners of Kansas City by § 84.420 RSMo 1949, V.A.M.S., as amended, Laws of Missouri, 1953, p.”
Van Kirk v. Bd. of Police Commissioners, 586 S.W.2d 350 (Mo. 1979). · cites it 2× “” Section 84.420, subsection 2(2). In such a relationship, the pleasure of the board is often the standard by which the chief administrative officer is hired and fired.”
Orion Sec., Inc. v. Bd. of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, 43 S.W.3d 467 (Mo. Ct. App. 2001). “The Police Board and Commissioners are empowered by §§ 84.420 and 84.720 to regulate and license private security firms that perform security services in Kansas City.”
City of Kansas City v. Carlson, 328 S.W.3d 323 (Mo. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “Section 84.420 grants the police board the duty and responsibility of, among other things, preventing crime and arresting offenders, and guarding the public health.”
Duckworth v. Sayad, 670 S.W.2d 88 (Mo. Ct. App. 1984). “420 duties, the regulation and this charge regulating a police officer’s sexual misconduct, if there is a public visibility of such conduct or if such exposure becomes public domain by an act of the police officer. This conduct may so wound the police department as to hinder the…”
Strickland v. Kansas City, Missouri Bd. of Police Commissioners (W.D. Mo. 2024). “Douglas’ interview demonstrates the Board had a policy of unconstitutional misconduct in criminal investigations. That policy, according to Plaintiff, led to his wrongful conviction.”
— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 84.420(2)(1) — 1 case
Trusler v. Tate, 941 S.W.2d 794 (Mo. Ct. App. 1997). “We must interpret it in light of other relevant statutes governing the actions of the Police Board and Police Department, including Section 84.420(2)(1). The latter statute permits the Department to “[a]dopt rules and regulations not inconsistent herewith governing the conduct…”
— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 84.420(9) — 1 case
Fantasma v. Kansas City, 913 S.W.2d 388 (Mo. Ct. App. 1996). “” The second count, labeled “Negligence Per Se,” asserted that the defendants breached their duty under § 84.420, RSMo 1994, and under “police guidelines and regulations,” by allowing the decedent to enter an “active crime scene” and by failing to take steps to protect him once…”
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