Effective 28 Aug 2013

84.830. Police department — prohibited activities — penalties. — 1. No officer, agent, or employee of the police department of such cities shall permit any solicitation for political purpose in any building or room occupied for the discharge of the official duties of the said department.

2. No officer or employee of said department shall promote, remove, or reduce any other official or employee, or promise or threaten to do so, for withholding or refusing to make any contribution for any political party or purpose or club, or for refusal to render any political service, and shall not directly or indirectly attempt to coerce, command, or advise any other officer or employee to make any such contribution or render any such service. No officer or employee in the service of said department or member of the police board shall use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with any election or any nomination for office, or affecting the result thereof. No officer or employee of such department shall solicit any person to vote for or against any candidate for public office, or poll precincts or be connected with other political work of similar character on behalf of any political organization, party, or candidate while on duty or while wearing the official uniform of the department. All such persons shall, however, retain the right to vote as they may choose and to express their opinions on all political subjects and candidates.

3. No person or officer or employee of said department shall affix any sign, bumper sticker or other device to any property or vehicle under the control of said department which either supports or opposes any ballot measure or political candidate.

4. No question in any examination shall relate to political or religious opinions or affiliations, and no appointment, transfer, layoff, promotion, reduction, suspension, or removal shall be affected by such opinions or affiliations.

5. No person shall make false statement, certification, mark, rating, or report with regard to any tests, certificate, or appointment made under any provision of sections 84.350 to 84.860 or in any manner commit or attempt to commit any fraud preventing the impartial execution of this section or any provision thereof.

6. No person shall, directly or indirectly, give, render, pay, offer, solicit, or accept any money, service, or other valuable consideration for or on account of any appointment, proposed appointment, promotion to, or any advancement in, a position in the service of the police departments of such cities.

7. No person shall defeat, deceive, or obstruct any person in his right to examination, eligibility, certification, appointment or promotion under sections 84.350 to 84.860, or furnish to any person any such secret information for the purpose of affecting the right or prospects of any person with respect to employment in the police departments of such cities.

8. Any officer or any employee of the police department of such cities who shall be found by the board to have violated any of the provisions of this section shall be discharged forthwith from said service. It shall be the duty of the chief of police to prefer charges against any such offending person at once. Any member of the board or of the common council of such cities may bring suit to restrain payment of compensation to any such offending officer or employee and, as an additional remedy, any such member of the board or of the common council of such cities may also apply to the circuit court for a writ of mandamus to compel the dismissal of such offending officer or employee. Officers or employees discharged by such mandamus shall have no right of review before the police board. Any person dismissed or convicted under this section shall, for a period of five years, be ineligible for appointment to any position in the service of the police department of such cities or the municipal government of such cities. Any persons who shall willfully or through culpable negligence violate any of the provisions of this section may, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars and not exceeding five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for a time not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

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(RSMo 1939 § 7682, A.L. 1943 p. 727 § 7681, A.L. 1988 H.B. 1304, A.L. 2013 S.B. 197, A.L. 2013 H.B. 307 merged with H.B. 336 merged with S.B. 216)

(1986) This section upheld against constitutional challenge under equal protection clause. Reeder v. Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners, 796 F.2d 1050 (8th Cir.).