The Portland daily press., 1895-01-26
EDUCATED POLICEMEN.
System which has Given Paris Her
Splendid Force.

Curious Points Observed in Selection
Bright Ideas Associated With Down
right Stupid Ones.
While it is a comparatively new thing
here in America to put the policemen
through an examination. this has long been
the rule in foreign countries. France, per-
haps. has the most intelligent policemen.
ANYBODY who has been il Paris can testify
to the patient civility and Kindness with
which guardian Of the peace there listens
to the excited complaints OF strangers or
natives. And this is a direct result from
their schooling, for in France when man
has been accepted as policeman he is COM
PEELED to go TO school for a certain length
of time.
1t is not so easy as one would imagine to
get on the force in the capital of France.
There is regularly appointed committee
that first takes the recruit in hand These
men are supposed to be very thorough in
summing up man Is character. at least so
far as the leading traits are concerned. 1t
happens many time that man is dis
missed as unfit for no. to an ordinary NOR
tai. apparent reason. The members of this
commission are not given to explanations if
the looks of the candidate don't please
them he is simply told that he is not
wanted. That ends it. There are no more
committees of "infiuential'' friends coming
around to express their Indignation or ap-
proval. and it would do no good il there
were.
The applicant for a position as guar
dian of the peace, as they are called, must
be as strong and robust as possible. H must
not be over IS years of age, and be neither
too tall nor too short. His moral qualifca-
tions are carefully looked into, and his
answers carefully noted.
One of the most curious stipulations or
rather closely observed rules, is the import
ance that is put upon mans personal APP
pearance. In America d splendidiy built,
handsome faced fellow will be almost sure
of an appointment on tie force with little
or no trouble, but in Paris it is different.
A handsome man is completely barred from
becoming policeman, no reason has ever
been given, but it is perhaps because the
fair sex might be too easily influenced and
tempted to ensnare the mans affections
to the detriment of his duties. A French
policeman is never handsomeynor ugly, both
extremes are guardedfagainst. The recruits
are after their acceptance subjected to u
rigid anatomical examination by physiG-
ian. He notes each mans dynamometric
force or muscular power, the circumference
Of his thorax, the range of his eyesight and
also his ability to easily distinguish co1ors.
No near-sighted or color-blind man gets
on the force.
Than his ms ct life ic cqrafn1IU lnOk p6
into. No man who has deviated too much
from the path of righteousness need make
himself the trouble of applying for job.
A PoL1CEMAN'S SCHOOL.
Our friend having successfully passed this
ordeal is then assigned, TO some station.
from where he will make his debut as pa
trolman. Rigid discipline is exacted and
policeman is far more of soldier than any
thing else. A new man is not put to really
active duties. For some time he is permitted
to patrol beat, but generally under the
guidance of some veteran of the force. He
Is, however, at once enrolled in the
practical school for the education of police
men," This institution was established
by the municipal government in 1883, and
has had very useful existence. The object
of this school is to thoroughly Undue the
policeman with what constitutes the intel
ligent discharge of their duties. Forbear-
ance and patience are held up as the shin
ing qualities of an ideal policeman. They
are, however, told never to submit to wan
ton insults, but quietly arrest the offender
If the occasion warrants it. ss~
The police schoolroom is exactly like any
public. school. There does not Hrpear to he
,r,iy, Evil eik
on benches and bend over desks built and
intended for small children. but as yet no.
body has thought to suggest a change. On
the wall are huge blackboards on which
are written in very bold characters such
@ sentences as the commissioners wish to
particularly impress on the minds of the
pupils For example, hele is one which
reads:
Never answer injuries by injuries,
threat by u threat, blows by blows. Be
gentle rather than severe. Never shrink
from legitimate defense, but refrain from
drawing your sword.
Such phrases as these abound in the
SC hool rooms. The men have such sentell-
ces as these constantly before their eyes
and cannot help but remember them on all
occasions. Their teachers are always some
bright officer who has risen by dint of hard
work from the same position now occu-
pied by his pupils. The lesson of the day
first comprises a brief review OF former ex-
erclses. They are then questioned in simple
matters of law relating to street business
in general. Each man must then give
condensed review of his days experience
while on duty. If he has arrested anybody
he must relate the circumstances which
led to it and how he performed his task.
The teacher then invites the pupils to make
comments on their f.llow-officer's actions,
stating whether he, in their opinion, had
carried out his part according to the in
structions that were given In the school.
The teacher corrects or approves. as the
case may be- In this way the officer when
he leaves the school for his beat, always
endeavors to apply practically when need
be that which lie has been taught theoreti-
cally. The police affairs of the day are also
always scussed, and if anything partic-
uIarly startling has occurred the men are
asked how they would have conducted them
selves under similar circumstances, and if
they have any suggetions to make. All the
apcouraoement possible Is extended tn tbasa