SEMO police chief charged in alleged POST exam misconduct case
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Welker announced felony charges have been filed against the chief of police at Southeast Missouri State University following an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control.
Richard D. Flotron III has been charged with two counts of forgery, Class D felonies, and two counts of unauthorized use of the Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST, exam, Class B misdemeanors.
According to court documents, the charges stem from an investigation into the administration of the Missouri POST certification examination at the Southeast Missouri State University Police Academy in December 2025.
Investigators allege Flotron altered answers on POST certification exams for academy cadets and submitted examinations on behalf of certain students during the testing process.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted the investigation after the matter was referred to the Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
“The integrity of Missouri’s peace officer certification process is fundamental to maintaining public trust in law enforcement,” Welker said in a statement. “Individuals seeking certification as peace officers must complete the POST examination in accordance with Missouri law and established testing procedures.”
The case remains pending in Cape Girardeau County court.
Flotron is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
