San Andreas National Gendarmerie

The San Andreas National Gendarmerie is the main national law enforcement agency of San Andreas. As a national gendarmerie force, it is military in it's nature but it also patrols and enforces laws on the civil population in more rural areas. During peace-time, the San Andreas National Gendarmerie conducts patrols on military bases along with rural areas and towns with less than 50,000 people. The Gendarmerie during war-time will be drafted to work with Military Police and or in combat roles.

The current head of the Gendarmerie is Brigadier General Pierre Lavier, who has held the position since 2017.

## History

The San Andreas National Gendarmerie was originally formed in 1781 as a rural policing force, policing soldiers in the military and with controlling the ports of entry. During it's early history the Gendarmerie also acted as an arm of the government and often was used to ensure government control during times of unrest.

In 1890, the Gendarmerie was primarily focused with policing military installations and rural parts of San Andreas. The ports of entry were given to local law enforcement in Los Santos and the Gendarmerie focused on policing outside of the then growing city. In 1914, the Gendarmerie was transferred to the then Department of War given it's military background. The Gendarmerie would be given back to San Andreas Ministry for Public Security in 1920, until it became a part of the San Andreas Ministry of Defense in 1940.

In 1955, the Gendarmerie adopted the SIG Sauer P210 9mm as the standard issue handgun for Gendarmes. The same year, the Gendarmerie purchased the FN FAL 7.62x51mm as the standard issue rifle for Gendarmes.

The Gendarmerie did provide assistance and training to the Allied Powers during WWII, however it is speculated that some right-wing factions of the government sent covert aid to the Axis Powers. Following the end of WWII, the Gendarmerie Command Staff decided to remain under the Ministry of Defense given the increased funding and more abilities. In 1961, the Ministry of Defense approved the Ministry for Public Security to have some involvement in the Gendarmerie, regarding staffing and some training aspects.

In the 1972 the Gendarmerie became involved with national security matters and began again policing the ports of entry and airports across San Andreas. In 1974, the Special Assault Force (SAF), was formed as a counter-terrorism unit following the Munich Olympic massacre. Gendarmerie also assumed customs duties in 1977, while a customs service/agency was formed and held that role until 1981, when the new agency was officially established and training was completed. In 1980, the Gendarmerie adopted the Swiss SIG Sauer P220 9mm as the standard issue sidearm.

In 2002, following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Gendarmerie increased their tactical and counter-terrorism capabilities. In 2005, the San Andreas Counterterrorism Command was formed as the Gendarmerie's elite counterterrorism unit. In 2007, the Special Assault Force was renamed to the Special Operations Group (SOG) as part of a modernization reform. The reason for reforms was to keep the specially trained units all under the same Commander so that their trainings would all be similar.

## Divisions

* Aviation Patrol Unit (APU)
* Boating Patrol Division (BPD)
* Counterterrorism Command (CTC)
* Critical Intervention Team (CIT)
* Drug Enforcement Action Division (DEAD)
* Gendarmerie Central Command (GCC)
* Maritime Defense Command (MDC)
* Military Security Division (MSD)
* Patrol Division Command (PDC)
* Rural Policing Bureau (RPB)
* Special Operations Group (SOG)
* Special Victims Bureau (SVB)
* Traffic Enforcement Bureau

## Equipment

All Gendarmes not assigned to a military base, barracks or installation are issued an X26 or X2 Taser, OC Spray and have an ASP Baton on their duty belt. Gendarmes assigned to military bases do not carry a Taser, but do have OC Spray and a ASP Baton on their duty belt. In addition Gendarmes are all issued a flashlight and can carry 2-3 spare handcuffs on their person along with their Motorola radios.

The sidearm issued to all Gendarmes is the SIG Sauer P226R chambered in 9mm and is issued with 2 spare magazines. Gendarmes are also issued the Heckler & Koch MP5A3 9mm which they can check out before going on patrol. Gendarmes at military bases are armed with the Heckler & Koch G36C 5.56x45mm carbine which also can be used by regular policing Gendarmes as well if they wish to do so. However regular Gendarmes assigned to police the general public are generally issued the Ruger Mini 14 .223 caliber rifle.

Special Agents and Investigators are issued the SIG Sauer P229R 9mm as the sidearm of choice. The Heckler & Koch USP Compact 9mm is also used by some specialized units within the Gendarmerie.

Equipment of the San Andreas National Gendarmerie

## Special Operations Group (SOG)

The Special Operations Group (SOG) is the tactical unit for the Gendarmerie who is tasked with responding to barricaded suspects, active shooters, hostage situations and other critical incidents in rural areas and military bases within San Andreas. The SOG is a highly trained and equipped unit who has undergone training directly from special forces operators. The SOG is considered the best trained unit within San Andreas law enforcement only second to the Gendarmerie Counterterrorism Command. In 2022, the Gendarmerie Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) was merged into the SOG to give them more abilities.

Gendarmerie SOG equipment used:

* Glock Model 17C Gen 3 9x19mm
* Glock Model 45 MOS 9x19mm
* SIG Sauer P226R 9x19mm
* Heckler & Koch MP5A3 9x19mm
* Heckler & Koch MP7A1 4.6x30mm
* Heckler & Koch HK416A5 5.56x45mm
* LWRC M6A2 5.56x45mm
* Heckler & Koch HK417 7.62x51mm
* Heckler & Koch MSG-90 7.62x51mm
* Benelli M4 Super 90 12 gauge
* Steyr SSG-69 7.62x51mm

## Counterterrorism Command (CTC)

The San Andreas Counterterrorism Command is the most elite tactical unit within the San Andreas law enforcement community. The CTC is primarily deployed during incidents involving national security, hostage situations, mass casualties and with conducting counterterrorism operations in and outside of San Andreas. However the CTC can also be deployed to active shooter and hostage situations if their assistance is requested by law enforcement.

Gendarmerie CTC Equipment used:

* Heckler & Koch USP45 Tactical .45 ACP
* SIG Sauer P226R 9x19mm
* Heckler & Koch MP5A3 9x19mm
* Colt Canada C8-SFW 5.56x45mm
* Heckler & Koch HK53A3 5.56x45mm
* SIG Sauer MCX Virtus SBR .300 AAC Blackout
* Heckler & Koch HK417 7.62x51mm
* Benelli M3T 12 gauge
* Mossberg M590A1 12 gauge
* Barrett M107 .50 BMG
* Remington Model 700 7.62x51mm
* Heckler & Koch HK69A1 40x46mm