Minnesota Administrative Rules Agency 163 - Peace Officer Standards and Training Board
Overview of Agency 163 / POST
The Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (POST) is responsible for licensing, regulating, and disciplining peace officers. Agency 163 establishes administrative rules that define:
Licensing requirements – minimum training, education, and qualifications for officers.
Standards of conduct – ethical and professional behavior expected from officers.
Disciplinary procedures – how POST investigates allegations and applies sanctions like suspension or revocation of a license.
Key Rule: Standards of Conduct
Under the rules, an officer may face disciplinary action for:
Criminal convictions (felonies or serious misdemeanors)
Driving under the influence
Misuse of authority or excessive force
Falsifying records or evidence
Discriminatory behavior or hate-group affiliation
Failure to cooperate with investigations or report required information
POST can revoke or suspend a license even if there is no criminal conviction, giving it administrative authority to act purely based on misconduct.
Detailed Case Examples
Here are more than five illustrative cases showing how these rules are applied:
Case 1: Off-Duty DUI
Scenario: Officer A was arrested for driving under the influence on a weekend off-duty.
Violation: Driving under the influence is prohibited under POST standards.
Action: POST suspended the officer’s license for a fixed period. The goal is to maintain public trust, even though the officer was off-duty.
Case 2: Felony Conviction
Scenario: Officer B was convicted of felony weapon possession.
Violation: Felony convictions automatically violate POST’s standards of conduct.
Action: POST revoked Officer B’s license immediately. The rule applies regardless of whether the officer is employed, ensuring that individuals with serious criminal convictions cannot remain certified.
Case 3: Excessive Use of Force
Scenario: Officer C used unnecessary force during an arrest, injuring a non-resisting suspect.
Violation: Excessive or unreasonable use of force violates POST’s conduct rules.
Action: POST suspended or revoked the license depending on severity. A criminal conviction was not required for this action, reflecting the Board’s ability to act purely on professional misconduct.
Case 4: Falsifying Records
Scenario: Officer D submitted a false incident report to cover up mistakes and misrepresented facts to a court.
Violation: Falsification of records and evidence is explicitly prohibited under POST rules.
Action: POST revoked the officer’s license to maintain integrity and accountability in law enforcement documentation.
Case 5: Discriminatory Conduct
Scenario: Officer E made racist remarks to a civilian during an encounter and publicly supported a hate group on social media.
Violation: Discriminatory behavior and affiliation with extremist organizations violate POST standards.
Action: License revocation. Even though no criminal charges were filed, the conduct breached professional and ethical standards.
Case 6: Failure to Report Arrests
Scenario: Officer F was arrested for a minor assault but failed to report the arrest to POST within the required period.
Violation: Officers must report arrests and certain incidents within a defined timeframe.
Action: POST suspended the license as a violation of administrative rules, emphasizing that compliance with reporting requirements is mandatory.
Case 7: Misuse of Authority
Scenario: Officer G used their position to intimidate a private citizen into dropping a civil complaint.
Violation: Misuse of authority is prohibited under POST rules.
Action: POST revoked the officer’s license to uphold public trust and prevent abuse of power.
Case 8: Evidence Tampering
Scenario: Officer H tampered with evidence in an ongoing investigation to protect a colleague.
Violation: Tampering with evidence and interfering with investigations breaches POST rules.
Action: License revocation ensured accountability and maintained the integrity of the legal process.
Summary of Case Types
From these cases, the main categories of misconduct are:
Criminal conduct – felonies or serious misdemeanors.
Substance-related offenses – DUI/DWI.
Professional misconduct – excessive force, misuse of authority, evidence tampering.
Dishonesty – falsification, misleading reports.
Discriminatory or extremist behavior – hate-group affiliation, harassment.
Administrative violations – failure to report incidents or cooperate with investigations.
POST’s authority ensures that officers are held accountable even without a criminal conviction, prioritizing ethics, integrity, and public trust in law enforcement.
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