HB 2415 -- Fire Protection District Police Officers

Sponsor:  Walton

This bill allows the board of directors of any fire protection
district to appoint or hire as many district police officers as
the board deems necessary to patrol the public buildings and
property and other facilities and locations over which the board
has charge and control.

The district police officers will have the same authority to
maintain order, preserve peace, and make arrests as regular peace
officers, including the power to expel persons from public
buildings and grounds for violating rules and regulations of the
board.

Unless licensed as a peace officer under Chapter 590, RSMo,
district police officers must complete at least 320 hours of
training as prescribed by the State Highway Patrol before
appointment or before beginning their duties.  The board can
continue to appoint guards and watchmen who are not given
district police officer powers.

Currently, any person violating a board regulation is guilty of a
misdemeanor, prosecutable in the circuit court by the county
prosecuting attorney or the fire protection district's legal
officer or attorney if appointed by the prosecuting attorney.
The bill requires the district's legal officer or attorney to be
appointed the ex officio special assistant prosecuting attorney
for these violations.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:12 pm