This is the Department's Reply (lifted from here:

Central Missouri Police Academy (University of Central Missouri) Anyone interested in applying to any police academy should be aware of the likely pitfalls. In the former system, all academy students were fully screened, tested, and hired by an agency before they entered an academy. The academy became their first duty assignment. Some years back, Missouri went the same route as did much of the country and allowed people to apply directly to academies, at their own expense, in the hope of getting hired afterward. Among other things, this left it to the 19 Missouri Basic Academies to screen applicants for suitability and acceptance, and I can assure you that neither the old, nor the current systems are foolproof. We rely to a degree on our experience, and heavily on both criminal and driving records. As with the rest of life our past does follow us, and this is true more so in law enforcement than in most areas. Driving convictions such as DUI / DWI, leaving the scene, and driving while suspended or revoked can prevent an applicant from being accepted into an academy. Juvenile records are sealed, and cannot be considered in any regard. Adult criminal convictions are always a red flag to some degree. They must be thoroughly documented and explained for evaluation at the academy level. If approved by an academy, they must then go to POST for approval. There are misdemeanors that will, and others that are likely to, result in a denial of acceptance. Felony convictions normally end the process with a denial, but on an even higher scale are felonies that involve violations of trust. In a profession that is constantly scrutinized by a public that is poorly educated on the realities of policing, but upon whom we rely for our existence, we must err on the side of safety when it comes to accepting applicants. In addition, we have an ethical duty to the public and the profession to be as sure as we can before accepting an applicant. This ethical duty is necessary for preserving the integrity of the academies, and the profession. Our screening standards are consistent with most law enforcement agencies. There is also a common public misconception that military experience and law enforcement equate. There are police officers who would excel in the military and military personnel who would excel in law enforcement, but that is not because of any sameness. There are many in each occupation that would not do well in the other, therefore experience in one is by no means an automatic ticket for acceptance into the other. They are different worlds, despite popular belief. Finally, it is important to give complete and accurate responses to all screening inquiries. Repeated requests for details and additional information hurt the credibility of applicants. They give the appearance of deception, and therefore a lack of trustworthiness.