Bill > HB3045

This bill modifies the procedures for administrative investigations and questioning of law enforcement officers in Missouri, aiming to provide greater protections and due process. Key provisions include requiring officers to be informed in writing about the nature of an investigation, the specific rules allegedly violated, and the investigators involved, with a complete copy of the complaint provided at least twenty-four hours before any interrogation. It also mandates that complaints must be in writing and signed by the complainant, with their identity kept confidential unless they refuse to be identified, in which case the complaint will not be investigated. The bill clarifies that questioning should be reasonable in length and occur while the officer is on duty unless circumstances dictate otherwise, and interviews should take place at a secure agency location or the officer's workplace unless the officer agrees to another location. It limits the number of investigators to two commissioned personnel from the investigating agency, with separate investigators for policy violations and criminal matters, and ensures officers are informed of their rights under *Garrity v. New Jersey*, which protects them from self-incrimination in criminal proceedings when compelled to answer questions under threat of disciplinary action. Furthermore, officers under investigation have the right to have an attorney or representative present during questioning, and the interview will be suspended for up to twenty-four hours if representation is requested. Investigations must be completed within ninety days, with possible extensions for good cause, and officers will be notified in writing of findings and recommendations. The bill also establishes a right to a full due process hearing before an officer can be suspended without pay, demoted, terminated, or transferred with economic loss, and outlines specific rights during such hearings, including the right to representation, access to documents, and the agency bearing the burden of proof. Records of investigations and hearings are to be kept confidential, with exceptions for lawful subpoenas or court orders. Finally, officers are entitled to compensation for economic loss if found to have committed no misconduct, and employers must defend and indemnify officers against civil claims arising from their duties, with provisions for legal recourse and potential voiding of disciplinary actions and awards for costs and attorney fees if the agency violates these procedures.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB3045&year=2026&code=R