AN OVERVIEW OF THE PEACE
OFFICER STANDARDS AND
TRAINING (POST) COMMISSION
AND CURRENT PEACE OFFICER
TRAINING STANDARDS
Daniel Isom, Ph.D.
Missouri DPS Director
Director of Public Safety
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Section 590.030.4 , RSMo, The director shall
establish a procedure for obtaining a peace
officer license and shall issue the proper
license when the requirements of this chapter
have been met.
Section 590.050.4 , RSMo, The director may
engage in any activity intended to further the
professionalism of peace officers through
training and education, including the provision
of specialized training through the department
of public safety.
Director of Public Safety
Pursuant to 11 CSR 75-1.010, the Director is
responsible for the following:
 Establishing a classification system for
peace officer licenses.
 Establishing minimum age, citizenship, and
general education requirements for peace
officers.
 Adopting or developing a Missouri Peace
Officer License Exam (MPOLE).
Director of Public Safety
 Providing for the licensing of peace officers
possessing credentials from other states or
jurisdictions.
 Establishing a procedure to obtain a peace
officer license.
 Licensing and regulating peace officers.
 Licensing and regulating continuing
education providers.
Director of Public Safety
 Licensing and regulating training
instructors and training centers.
 Establishing minimum standards for
admittance into a basic training course.
 Promulgating rules pursuant to Chapter
590, RSMo.
POST Commission
The Missouri POST Commission is
established pursuant to section 590.120,
RSMo.
All eleven members of the POST Commission
are appointed by the Governor and confirmed
by the Senate.
Annually, the Director of Public Safety
appoints one of the members as chairperson.
POST Commission
The POST Commission meets twice a year
(April and October).
A majority of the members shall constitute a
quorum.
Additionally, the POST Commission guides
and advises the Director of DPS concerning
his duties pursuant to Chapter 590, RSMo.
POST Commission
Of the eleven POST Commissioners,
three are police chiefs, three are sheriffs,
two are officers at the rank of sergeant or
below, one is a state law enforcement
official, one is a training center
representative, and one is a public
member.
POST Commission
Pursuant to 11 CSR 75-1.010, the POST
Commission is responsible for the following:
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Establishing minimum standards for the basic
training of peace officers.
Establishing a procedure for the relicensing of
peace officers whose licenses have expired.
POST Commission
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Setting the minimum number of hours of
basic training for peace officers.
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.
POST Commission
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Establishing requirements for the continuing
education of peace officers.
Administering the Peace Officer Standards
and Training Fund.
Peace Officer Basic Training
As of July 1, 2007, all basic training centers
deliver a minimum of 600 hours of basic
training. Persons with 600 hours of basic
training are eligible for a Class A Peace
Officer License.
Pursuant to section, 590.040.1, RSMo, the
POST Commission cannot mandate more
than 600 hours of basic training, with the
exception of state law enforcement agencies,
which must complete 1,000 hours of training.
Peace Officer Basic Training
Although capped at 600 hours of mandatory
basic training, all basic training centers offer
more than 600 hours of training. Training
over the mandated 600 hours is considered
“supplemental basic training”.
May of the basic training centers offer near
1,000 hours of training, with some delivering
over 1,200 hours of training.
Peace Officer Basic Training
With a few exceptions, to be eligible to be
employed as a peace officer within St. Louis
City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County,
Jefferson County, and Jackson County,
peace officers must have a valid Class A
peace officer license, which is equivalent to
600 hours of basic training. This requirement
has been in place for many years.
However, as noted before, many of these
officers have well over 600 hours of basic
training.
Peace Officer Basic Training
Basic Training Curricula Chart (Handout)
Continuing Education
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All licensed peace officers must obtain 48 hours of
continuing education every three year reporting
period.
4 hours Legal Studies
4 hours Technical Studies
4 hours Interpersonal Perspectives
4 hours Skill Development (firearms)
32 remaining hours in any above curricula areas
3 hours of “Racial Profiling” training (inclusive)
Continuing Education
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24 of the 48 hours of continuing education training
may be provided in-house by an employing law
enforcement agency.
“Racial Profiling” training may be presented inhouse by the employing agency, but the course
must be pre-approved by POST before delivery as
it has very specific learning objectives that must
covered.
Pursuant to 11 CSR 75-15.010, every peace
officer with the authority to enforce motor vehicle
or traffic laws shall obtain continuing education
training regarding racial profiling.
QUESTIONS?
POST Program Contact
Information
The POST Program website will have all of the
statutes and administrative rules we discussed:
www.dps.mo.gov/post
Main contact number for the POST Program
within my office: 573-751-3409