Missouri Laws 85.561 – Police officers, conservators of peace — supervision — powers and duties
1. In all third class cities the members of the police department shall be conservators of the peace, and shall be active and vigilant in the preservation of good order within the city.
2. The chief of police shall, in the discharge of his duties, be subject to the orders of the mayor only; the deputy chief of police and all other members of the police department shall be subject to the orders of their superiors in the police department and the mayor only.
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 85.561
- Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
- State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
3. Every member of the police department shall have power at all times to make or order an arrest with proper process for any offense against the laws of the city or the state, and to keep the offender in the city prison or other proper place to prevent his escape until a trial can be had before the proper officer, unless such offender shall give a good and sufficient bond for his appearance for trial, and shall also have power to make arrests without process in all cases in which any offense against the laws of the city or the state shall be committed in his presence. Every member of the police department is also empowered to serve and execute all warrants, subpoenas, writs or other process issued by the judge hearing and determining municipal ordinance violation cases of the city at any place within the limits of the county or counties within which the city is located. Every member of the police department shall have the power to make or order an arrest in areas leased or owned by the municipality outside of the boundaries of such municipality.
4. It shall be the duty of the chief of police or in his absence the deputy chief of police to collect all fines assessed for violations of municipal ordinances if not otherwise collected and pay the same into the city treasury.