Mo. Rev. Stat. § 84.570

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.

(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