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

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 84.570 (2026)

Police force

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  84.570.  Police force — qualifications — separation from service, when — competitive examinations — eligible list — rules by board. — 1.  No person shall be appointed policeman or officer of police who shall have been convicted of any offense, the punishment of which may be confinement in the state penitentiary; nor shall any person be appointed who is not proven to be of good character, or who is not proven to be a bona fide citizen of the United States, or who cannot read and write the English language and who does not possess ordinary physical strength and courage, nor shall any person be originally appointed to said police force who is less than twenty-one years of age.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board shall have the sole authority to determine conditions of employment for police officers pursuant to section 84.460.

  2.  In the interest of efficiency and public safety, law enforcement officers, as such term is defined in 29 U.S.C. Section 630 or any successor statute, shall be separated from service on the last day of the month in which the employee becomes sixty-five years of age or reaches thirty-five years of creditable service, as such term is defined in subdivision (8) of section 86.900, whichever occurs first.

  3.  The board shall from time to time require open competitive examinations or tests for determining the qualifications and fitness of all applicants for appointment to positions on the police force.  Such examinations and tests shall be practical and shall relate to matters which fairly measure the relative fitness of the candidates to discharge the duties of the positions to which they seek to be appointed.  Notice of such examinations and tests shall be given not less than ten days in advance thereof by public advertisement in at least one newspaper of general circulation in such city, and by posting notice in the police headquarters building.  A list of those qualifying in such examinations shall be established, listing those qualified in order of rank.  When an appointment is to be made, the appointment shall be made from such eligible list.

  4.  The board shall also establish rules for:

  (1)  Temporary employment for not exceeding sixty days in the absence of any eligible list;

  (2)  Hours of work of police employees and officers subject to the provisions of section 84.510; and

  (3)  Attendance regulations and leaves of absence.

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(RSMo 1939 § 7659, A.L. 1943 p. 727 § 7660, A.L. 1953 p. 304, A.L. 1958 2d Ex. Sess. p. 152, A.L. 2003 S.B. 5, A.L. 2025 H.B. 147 merged with H.B. 225, A.L. 2026 S.B. 1572)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 7520; 1919 § 8931; 1909 § 9783

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases, 1963–2009 · leading case: Trusler v. Tate, 941 S.W.2d 794 (Mo. Ct. App. 1997).
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Trusler v. Tate, 941 S.W.2d 794 (Mo. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 12× “Trusler was not a resident of Kansas City was supported by competent and substantial evidence, that the Department’s residency requirement is not inconsistent with Section 84.570 and hence is valid, and that the Board had the power to act in this matter where, as here, a quorum…”
Vivona v. Zobrist, 290 S.W.3d 167 (Mo. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 4× “Vivona’s argument as it concerns section 84.570. 5 Prior to 2003, that statute required Kansas City police officers to be residents of Kansas City.”
Fritzshall v. Bd. of Police Commissioners, 886 S.W.2d 20 (Mo. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 3× “Section 84.570, RSMo 1986 provides that no person shall be appointed a police officer who is not proven to be a bona fide citizen and resident of such city for at least one year.”
Jordan v. Kelly, 223 F. Supp. 731 (W.D. Mo. 1963). · cites it 2× “Section 84.570 determines the qualifications of the policemen and officers of the police force, and it also provides that, from time to time, competitive examinations or tests for determining the qualifications and fitness for appointment to the police force, shall be provided…”
State v. Palms, 592 S.W.2d 236 (Mo. Ct. App. 1979). · cites it 2× “Such reserve force shall be under the command of the chief of police and shall be provided training, equipment, uniforms, and arms as the chief shall direct with the approval of the board; and when assigned to active duty the members of the reserve force shall possess all of the…”
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 84.570(1): 1 case
Trusler v. Tate, 941 S.W.2d 794 (Mo. Ct. App. 1997). “Trusler was not a resident of Kansas City was supported by competent and substantial evidence, that the Department’s residency requirement is not inconsistent with Section 84.570 and hence is valid, and that the Board had the power to act in this matter where, as here, a quorum…”
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