LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY

As defined by the word "Profession" the Howell County Sheriff's Office strives to maintain a progressive movement forward in raising the bar in professional standards.  In effort to set the conditions within our professional development model, the following categories have been established for aiding applicants in their success of securing employment.  For those Out-of-state or Military Peace Officers requesting a Missouri Peace Officer License without attending a Missouri Basic Peace Officer Academy, please see the Missouri Department of Public Safety Veteran Peace Officer Application & Handbook for further details.  The Basic Peace Officer Academy is the minimum requirement for Commissioned Officer employment consideration.

• No experience or less than 5 years full-time law enforcement experience, or;
• No experience or less than 5 years active duty military experience.

• Associates Degree, or;
• 5+ years full-time law enforcement experience, or;
• 5+ years active duty military experience, or;
• Combination of 2.5+ years full-time law enforcement and 2.5+ years active duty military experience.

Pursuant to the Revised Statutes of Missouri §590.020.  Peace officer license required, when — classes of officers established — no license required, when:

1.  No person shall hold a commission as a peace officer without a valid peace officer license.

2.  The director shall establish various classes of peace officer license and may provide that certain classes are not valid for commission within counties of certain classifications, by certain state agencies, or for commission as other than a reserve peace officer with police powers restricted to the commissioning political subdivision.

3.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no license shall be required:

(1)  Of any person who has no power of arrest;

(2)  To seek or hold an elected county office, subject to such requirements as chapter 57 may impose;

(3)  To be commissioned pursuant to section 64.335 as a park ranger not carrying a firearm;

(4)  To be commissioned as a peace officer by a political subdivision having less than four full-time paid peace officers or a population less than two thousand, provided that such commission was in effect on August 28, 2001, and continually since that date, and provided that this exception shall not apply to any commission within a county of the first class having a charter form of government;

(5)  Of any reserve officer continually holding the same commission since August 15, 1988; or

(6)  For any person continually holding any commission as a full-time peace officer since December 31, 1978.

4.  Any political subdivision or law enforcement agency may require its peace officers to meet standards more stringent than those required for licensure pursuant to this chapter.

A person may be eligible for licensing as a Missouri Peace Officer if the individual:

• Is twenty one (21) years of age

• Is a United States citizen

• Is the holder of a valid high school diploma or its equivalent

• Is a graduate of a Basic Peace Officer Academy

• Has passed the Missouri Peace Officer License Exam

• Has no criminal history as outlined in Section 590.080.1 and Section 590.100.1, RSMo.