85.541. Merit system police department, adoption--requirements of ordinance (third class cities). - Missouri Statutes

Merit system police department, adoption--requirements ofordinance (third class cities).

85.541. 1. Any city of the third class may by ordinance adopt amerit system police department. Such police department shall have a chiefof police, and may have a deputy chief of police, and such number ofregular policemen of such rank or grade as may be prescribed by ordinance.

2. Any ordinance adopting the merit system police department withinthe meaning of sections 85.541 to 85.571 shall include the followingprovisions for the appointment, promotion, suspension, demotion ordischarge of members of the police department:

(1) A personnel board shall be created which shall be composed of notless than three, but not more than six members;

(2) The personnel board shall be required to give examinations tocandidates for appointment or promotion and to certify lists of eligiblesto the mayor or other appointing authority;

(3) The mayor or other appointing authority shall be required toappoint or promote from a list of eligibles so certified;

(4) All persons so appointed or promoted shall be entitled to holdoffice during good behavior and efficient service;

(5) Any person suspended, demoted or discharged for misbehavior orinefficiency shall, upon his application, be granted a public hearingbefore the personnel board.

(L. 1955 p. 290 § 1, A.L. 1997 H.B. 125)