Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Reorganizing the Police Force (Seeking Investment)
After flipping through the files, Joseph learned that these more than 180 police officers had not received their full wages for four months.
Their salaries were supposed to come 20% from the city hall and the remaining 80% from the chamber of commerce. However, because the merchants often failed to cooperate, the funds were insufficient, which meant the police officers received less pay.
Joseph frowned and shook his head. To have over sixty people managing a large district of 80,000 inhabitants and to be in salary arrears… it was no wonder that there were twenty-eight murders popping up in a month. It was equally unsurprising that in the beginning of the great upheaval in France, when masses of citizens went to the military hospice to grab muskets, no one stood in their way.
Everything depends on people, so it seemed that the urgent matter at hand was solving the manpower issue.
Joseph pondered for a long while, recalling various advanced policing concepts from later generations, and then wrote a good four or five pages, sorting out a framework for reforming the police force, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
He put down his pen and glanced at the first item he had written, “Restructure civilian patrol teams,” and summoned the Police Commissioner’s assistant Bono, instructing:
“Please gather all the police and civilian patrol teams of the Saint Antoine District here tomorrow morning.”
The latter was startled, “Your Highness, you mean, everyone?”
“Yes, everyone. I will have Viscount Gizo bring in people from other districts to help with the patrol, so do not worry.”
“Yes.”
Joseph then turned to Eman, “Please arrange for someone to fetch twenty thousand livres from my private funds.”
…
When the sun rose again, nearly 400 police officers and civilian patrol members had gathered in the open space in front of Paris Police Headquarters, standing in two somewhat disorderly squares.
Even though they had been informed that they would meet the Crown Prince, their current superior, today, when they saw that handsome young man in a red double-breasted uniform and tricorne hat on the wooden platform in front of them, they were still filled with nervousness and shock.
At nine o’clock sharp, accompanied by the sound of military drums, Joseph raised his hand to signal, and loudly said:
“Gentlemen, good morning. I am not one for idle chatter, so I will make just three points, and I ask everyone to listen carefully.”
Though his voice was youthful, it carried a strong presence: “First, as of now, the entire civilian patrol team of the Saint Antoine District will be incorporated into the Police Department, becoming official police officers. Of course, those who are unwilling are not forced.”
The civilian patrol team members were in an uproar!
To buy a police officer position cost 500 livres. With just one casual statement from the Crown Prince, they had all become official police officers?!
In Paris, while the reputation of the police was not very good, it was nonetheless a government position with status and standing! These folks who had organized themselves out of sheer necessity could never have dreamed of becoming police officers; this was a rapid promotion!
Joseph signaled for everyone to be quiet and continued, “Second, from now on, everyone will have to go through an evaluation process. The content includes character, physical fitness, and professional competency, etc. Based on the scores, police ranks will be granted—ah, similar to military ranks, divided into Police officer, Inspector, and Chief, each with three grades. In the future, as ranks are promoted, salaries will also increase.
“Starting from trainee police officers, the monthly salary is 18 livres. The salaries for the first to third grade officers are 22, 25, and 30 livres respectively. The salary for inspectors starts at 40 livres.”
He pointed to several wooden boxes nearby: “Here are twenty thousand livres; after the evaluation of ranks, you will be able to receive this month’s salary. From now on, salaries will be paid here in cash, with not a day’s delay.”
The crowd exploded again! 30 livres was nearly the income of a city hall official, and 22 livres was enough for modest comfort, with the salary being paid in cash! The previous salary for the Paris Police was only 16 livres, and it was often docked, so what they actually received in hand was just over half.
All eyes shone bright, reflecting the glint of silver coins.
They had to compete fiercely in the assessments! If one could be evaluThe ated as a third-grade officer, it meant saving at least ten, no, twenty years of struggle!
As for those who were portly, they were already becoming anxious as they looked at their own figures.
“Third,” Joseph’s voice interrupted everyone’s thoughts, “in the future, a performance review system will be implemented. This means that based on indicators such as case-solving rates, the volume of emergency calls, and the number of complaints, assessments will be conducted monthly. Good work will be rewarded with bonuses, and unsatisfactory performance will result in fines deducted from the salary. Promotions in rank and position will also rely heavily on performance scores.”
He looked around at those present: “That is all I have to say. I believe everyone is in favor.
“Now, everyone will begin the reorganization and evaluation on the spot; the reorganization must be completed within ten days!”
“Yes!” an enormous roar immediately went up from below the platform.
The former civilian patrol team members were so excited that their faces turned red and their hands trembled, cries of “Long live the Crown Prince” rang out continuously.
They could never have anticipated that this unexpected gathering would result in such a huge turn of fate. It was foreseeable that their lives would be filled with hope from now on!
The Crown Prince had already become like a savior in their hearts, emanating a sacred radiance; hundreds of people swore in their hearts to give it their all, to repay the Crown Prince’s great kindness!
Then, several of the Crown Prince’s guards ran over, each picked several tens of police officers, and led them off to start reorganizing into teams.
Joseph’s measures may seem commonplace in later times, but in the eighteenth century, they were definitely seen as the most advanced concepts—standardizing structure, detailed job roles, performance evaluations, and rewarding capability; all were revolutionary improvements.
According to the original historical trajectory, it was not until decades later that the talented and mighty Napoleon initiated police reform, and his efforts, although less than half of those made by Joseph, had already become an example for all of Europe to learn from.
Two days later, the residents of the Saint Antoine District began to notice many new things.
At the corner of each street, a wooden box with a slit at the top was hung, labeled “Police Complaint Box” in bold letters painted on with oil, with a small note explaining that all dissatisfaction with the police could be written down and dropped in there, and the Police Commissioner would personally review and address them. The results would be made public immediately.
And in many populated areas, a large number of wooden stands were being constructed. According to the carpenters, these were security pavilions requested by the Police Headquarters, where police officers would be on duty all day, ready to support the patrolling officers.