General Organization

PURPOSE: This rule provides for the organization, administration, and methods of operation of the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Program and the division of responsibilities between the POST Commission and the Director of the Department of Public Safety. (1) Chapter 590, RSMo divides responsibility for peace officer standards and training between the Director of the Department of Public Safety and the POST Commission. (A) The Director is responsible for the following: 1. Establishing a classification system for peace officer licenses. 2. Establishing minimum age, citizenship, and general education requirements for peace officers. 3. Adopting or developing a Missouri Peace Officer License Exam (MPOLE). 4. Providing for the licensing of peace officers possessing credentials from other states or jurisdictions. 5. Establishing a procedure to obtain a peace officer license. 6. Licensing and regulating peace officers. 7. Licensing and regulating continuing education providers. 8. Licensing and regulating training instructors and training centers. 9. Establishing minimum standards for admittance into a basic training course. 10. Promulgating rules pursuant to Chapter 590, RSMo. (B) The POST Commission is responsible for the following: 1. Establishing minimum standards for the basic training of peace officers. 2. Establishing a procedure for the relicensing of peace officers whose licenses have expired. 3. Setting the minimum number of hours of basic training for peace officers. 4. Providing for the recognition of basic training received at law enforcement training centers of other states, the military, the federal government, and territories of the United States. 5. Establishing requirements for the continuing education of peace officers. 6. Administering the Peace Officer Standards and Training Fund. 7. Guiding and advising the Director concerning peace officer standards and training. (2) The Director has established a POST Program within the Office of the Director to assist in the implementation of Chapter 590, RSMo. The POST Program shall: (A) Provide administrative support to the POST Commission; and (B) Serve as an agent and representative of the Director designated to carry out responsibilities relating to peace officer standards and training pursuant to section 590.010(2), RSMo. (3) Members of the public may obtain information from, and may communicate with, the POST Program and the POST Commission as follows: (A) General information and forms are available via the Internet. (B) The POST Program will respond to inquiries made by telephone, postal mail, or electronic mail. (C) All official communication to the POST Program or POST Commission shall be in written form. 1. All applications made pursuant to these rules shall be delivered to the POST Program in person or by postal mail. 2. Other correspondence to the POST Program or POST Commission may be delivered by postal mail, electronic mail, or, with prior approval, by fax. (D) The contact information for inquiries and correspondence pursuant to this rule shall be as follows: 1. Internet: http://www.dps.mo.gov/ post. 2. Postal mail: POST Program, PO Box 749, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 3. Telephone: (573) 751-4905. 4. Fax: (573) 751-5399. 5. Electronic mail: POST@dps.mo.gov. AUTHORITY: sections 590.020, 590.030, 590.040, 590.050, 590.060, 590.120, and 590.190, RSMo Supp. 2007.* Original rule filed Aug. 12, 1980, effective Nov. 13, 1980. Rescinded and readopted: Filed April 12, 1989, effective June 29, 1989. Amended: Filed Sept. 29, 1992, effective May 6, 1993. Emergency rescission and rule filed June 15, 1994, effective Aug. 28, 1994, expired Dec. 25, 1994. Rescinded and readopted: Filed June 2, 1994, effective Nov. 30, 1994. Amended: Filed Aug. 11, 1995, effective March 30, 1996. Amended: Filed Dec. 3, 1996, effective June 30, 1997. Rescinded and readopted: Filed May 1, 2002, effective Oct. 30, 2002. Amended: Filed Aug. 2, 2004, effective Jan. 30, 2005. Amended: Filed July 1, 2008, effective Dec. 30, 2008. *Original authority: 590.020, RSMo 2001; 590.030, RSMo 2001; 590.040, RSMo 2001, amended 2005, 2007; 590.050, RSMo 2001; 590.060, RSMo 2001; 590.120, RSMo 1978, amended 1988, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2007; and 590.190, RSMo 2001, amended 2007.