SEMO Police Chief Charged Following POST Exam Investigation

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (WSIL) — The Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed felony charges against Southeast Missouri State University Police Chief Dr. Richard D. Flotron III following an investigation into the administration of a Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification examination. According to Prosecuting Attorney Mark Welker, Flotron was charged Wednesday with two counts of forgery, Class D felonies, and two counts of unauthorized use of the POST exam, Class B misdemeanors. Welker said the charges stem from an investigation into a POST certification examination conducted at the Southeast Missouri State University Police Academy in December 2025. According to a probable cause statement, authorities stated Flotron altered answers on certification examinations for academy cadets and submitted examinations on behalf of certain students during the testing process. The investigation was conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control after the matter was referred to the Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. In a statement, Welker emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of Missouri’s peace officer certification process. “The integrity of Missouri’s peace officer certification process is fundamental to maintaining public trust in law enforcement,” Welker said. “Individuals seeking certification as peace officers must complete the POST examination in accordance with Missouri law and established testing procedures. When credible allegations arise that call the integrity of that process into question, they must be thoroughly investigated.” The charges were filed in the Associate Circuit Court of Cape Girardeau County. The case remains under investigation, and all charges are allegations until proven in court. Flotron is due in court on July 16, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse for an initial appearance.