84.430. 1. The board shall hear all complaints or chargesfiled against any member of the police department. Allcomplaints or charges filed by persons other than thecommissioners or police officers shall be verified by the oath ofthe person filing such complaints or charges. The board may atany time order the discharge of a specified number of policeofficers for the reason that in the opinion of the board, thepolice force is larger than the interests of the public demand orthat there is insufficient money to pay the expenses ofmaintaining the police force as then organized; and in such casesit shall not be necessary to file any complaint or charges or topermit a hearing by the board of the policemen or police officersto be removed; but policemen and police officers so dismissedshall be placed at the top of the suitable eligible lists, andwhen vacancies so created shall be filled the policemen or policeofficers thus removed shall, if they so desire, be reappointed tofill such vacancies in the order in which such policemen orpolice officers were removed.
2. Any member of the board shall have power to summon andcompel the attendance of witnesses before the board and theproduction of books and papers before them whenever it may benecessary for the more effective discharge of the board's dutiesand responsibilities. Any member of the board or the secretaryof the board shall have the power to administer oaths oraffirmations to any person appearing or called before said board.
(RSMo 1939 §§ 7661, 7664, 7665, A.L. 1943 p. 727 § 7651)Prior revisions: 1929 §§ 7511, 7512, 7522; 1919 §§ 8922, 8923, 8933; 1909 §§ 9774, 9775, 9785