New-York tribune., 1901-12-08
THE PARIS POLICE.
THE ORGANIZATION OF A FAMOUS
FoRCE-How 1T Is RECRUITED AND
TRAINED-FREE FROM POLIT-
ICAL CORRUPTION.
Paris. November 30.

Paris. November 30.
The municipal police OF Paris is probably the
Oldest organization Of the kind in Europe II
has gradually developed by means OF mazes of
DEGREES and ordinances, the earliest Of which IS
an edict promulgated by King Clotatre II IN the
year So regulating the service Of the 'Guet
de Mutt" or night watch. The subdivision into
companies under the control Of a chief. styled
the lieutenant general Of police, was effected
by a decree signed by Louis XIV in 1861. Dark
blue with silver and white trimmings.
adopted for the uniforms. by virtue Of a decree
bearing the signature of Louis XIV. Companies
are still the administrative units OF the Paris
police force, and the modest dark blue with
silver trimmings is to-day the distinctive feat
ure OF the police uniforms. a decree of the
ConsuIs, dated Ventose 18th, year VIII March
s. 1900 reorganized the police and placed it
under the orders Of a chief bearing the present
title Of Prefect Of Police. The citizen Dubois
was personally selected by the Consul Bona
parte for the post Of Prefect of Police. and dur
ing his term of office. which lasted ten years,
he showed such marvellous talents for organiza-
ton and executive ability as to put the force on
an efficient basis that served model for all
the police organizations in Europe.
The name of Dubois is still venerated in the
Paris police force. and his portraits adorn the
deed, the organization and administration es
tabIshed by Dubois have survived 10 the pres
ent day and the force still works the main
lines traced by this master hand a hundred years
ago. During the First Empire Napoleon Gre
ated a ministry Of police the principal incum-
bents being the famous Fouche and Savary-
Whatever may be the present faults or short
comfngs Of the Paris police It is admitted
by its keenest detractors that the force is free
from political corruption, bribery or jobbery of
any description. This is largely attributed to
the admirable organization established by Du-
bois and which Napoleon jealousy guarded
from encroaching influences affecting the tech
nlcal service of the force. even when the en-
croachments en1anated from the Minister of
Police himself.
Through the courtesy Of NJ. L4pine, the pres
ent Prefect OF Police. am enabled to set forth
the main lines of the organization and recruit
rnent OF the Paris Metropolitan Police. as es-
on October 81, 1900.
The force con sists of twenty-five OFFICERS de
paix." twenty-eight chief inspectors, eighty
brigadiers 500 suh-brigadiers and 1000 gar
diens de Ia paix,'' or policemen.
In the recruitment of the force preference is
accorded to men who have served as non-com-
rr1issioned officers in the army and who can
show certificates of honorable discharge A fur
ther preference is accorded to men who have
been decorated with the military medal, a dis
tinction given only to officers soldiers for
gallant conduct in presence of the enemy The
men must be under thirty years of age. except
in the case of ex-non-conlmssioned officers. who
nav be accepted until the age Of thirty-fve.
All candidates must come up to the standard
height of / metre 30 centimetres. which
corresponds TO ) feet 4 inches They must
be sound in body, wind and limb. and must
not be nearsighted- They must possess a
good common school education and be able to
write legibly and draw up rapidly an ordinary
police report They must be provided with GER
tiicates of good conduct or honorable discharge.
and a single police court sentence. no matter
how trivial recorded against candidate is an
absolute disqualification.
The term of service is from year TO year. de-
pendent upon good conduct and upon physical