Chapter 6 Become a small official first

Early the next morning.

As soon as Paris Municipal Commissioner Lewebert saw the president of the Chamber of Commerce, he waved to him with a plump face, exchanged a few words with him, and said:

"By the way, how do you feel about the case that the prince solved yesterday?"

Fleisel said with emotion: "The Crown Prince's intelligence simply shocked me, and I really look forward to the day when he leads France."

"Who says not?" Lewebel said with a smile: "After careful consideration, I think His Highness can definitely serve as the chief of police."

After some lobbying, Fleisel was finally convinced. Since the prince himself wanted to serve in the police station, it would be better to do him a favor.

Here, as soon as Joseph entered the door of the city hall, he saw the fat mayor walking towards him, saying with a smile on his face:

"Your Highness, yesterday the police chief of the St. Anthony District of Old Similion took a long leave due to illness. I wonder if you are interested in becoming the police chief?"

"Saint Anthony District?" The president of the Chamber of Commerce was stunned for a moment, lowered his head, and whispered to Lewebel: "Why didn't you say where it was just now? It's too chaotic there. What if His Highness..."

The city commissioner interrupted him in a low voice: "The prince will not patrol, so nothing will happen."

Fleiselle wanted to say something else, but was stopped by the fat mayor: "Your Highness, the people left behind by Similion are all experienced people, so don't worry."

Joseph was a little surprised at how the two people changed so quickly, but he immediately agreed: "Okay, I accept this position."

He learned yesterday that the police chief, who was responsible for all the police in a large area, was superior to him. And the city government is unlikely to make him police chief, given his age.

Lewebel immediately flattered him again, sent the crown prince to the police station, watched the appointment document being signed, and then left with satisfaction.

Joseph wasted no time. Under the personal escort of Police Chief Guizot, he drove directly to the Saint-Antoine district to take up his post.

After walking for more than an hour, the carriage entered the St. Anthony District. The surrounding scene suddenly became a little dilapidated.

The residents coming and going looked numb. There are ramshackle shacks everywhere. Foul-smelling homeless people slumped haphazardly in corners. Half of the shops were closed and there were only a few vendors on the roadside. Only street girls wearing cheap clothes attract customers and bring a little life to the place.

Soon after leaving, Joseph saw the person collecting the protection money several times. He then encountered two groups of gang members fighting on the street. Blood flowed everywhere. When passers-by saw it from a distance, they lowered their heads and ran away. And no police showed up from beginning to end.

Guizot seemed accustomed to such scenes. He just talked happily about the ball and encouraged the crown prince to attend the masquerade ball next month.

Joseph thought to himself: No wonder this was the place where riots first broke out during the French Revolution. Anyone who lives for several years in such conditions, with abject poverty, is bound to grow resentful. Once it breaks out, the destructive power will be extremely huge. .

He let out a long sigh. It seems like he came to the St. Anthony area at the perfect time.

Half an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of a small yard surrounded by uneven wooden boards. There is a dilapidated building in the yard with no sign.

Guizot pointed out the car diligently: "Your Highness, this is the St. Anthony District Police Station."

A policeman outside the hospital saw that the person getting off the carriage turned out to be the police chief, and hurried in to report. After a while, several police officers led the crowd and quickly came out to greet them.

Guizot bowed to Joseph first, then glanced at the person in front of him, cleared his throat, and said loudly: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is here. From now on, he will serve as the chief of police here." The assistant next to him immediately showed Employment documents.

Everyone at the St. Anthony District Police Station was stunned and looked confused: How could such a big man come to a small place like ours? But isn't the prince only thirteen years old? Oh my God, he's going to be the police chief? I'm afraid the police station will be in chaos...

After a long time, a tall, thin man with deep eyes walked up to him and saluted respectfully: "Your Highness, your arrival has made our small place shine! Assistant Police Chief Bono said sincerely on behalf of everyone present. Welcome you."

He turned sideways and introduced to the people around him: "Your Highness, this is Magoni, the security inspector of the second team, and this is the security inspector of the third team..."

Several security personnel rushed forward and saluted, and Joseph smiled back one by one. The information he saw from the city government showed that the deputy chief of police is the second-in-command of the police department, while the peace inspector is responsible for directing police dispatches and patrols. He usually has more than a dozen of them, belonging to the middle level of the police station.

Bono and others surrounded Joseph into the police station. Magoni took a few steps closer quickly, his face full of admiration and said: "Your Highness, I heard Cesar say that you only spent more than ten minutes yesterday to solve a murder case, and it took us ten minutes to work." More minutes and years of disgrace to the police!"

Joseph did not expect that the news would spread to St. Anthony District so quickly, and he quickly said a few words modestly.

After entering the dilapidated building of the police station, Joseph couldn't help frowning. He looked at the policemen following him and told them not to follow them and to do what they had to do, including Guizot. He also let him go.

The surroundings finally became quiet. Joseph was led by Bono to the police chief's office, looked around, and sat down in front of the big oak desk.

Bono smiled and said, "Your Highness, would you like tea or hot cocoa? I'll prepare dinner for you right away."

"Thank you, no need to bother." Joseph waved his hand to interrupt him: "Please give me the situation in the jurisdiction, as well as the information about the cases and personnel."

Bono was a little surprised. He thought the prince was just here to play for a few days, but he didn't expect that he really came!

The document was delivered quickly, and Joseph only turned a few pages before frowning - last month alone, there were 28 murders, 63 robberies, and 220 thefts in St. Anthony District...

And the population of this district is only 80,000!

This number only refers to people reporting crimes. There are countless people who have not reported the crime. The situation was much worse than I imagined.

Joseph picked up the police information again. There are 181 police officers in the entire Saint-Antoine district, 120 of whom are paid police positions, and only 61 people have entered the police force through inheritance, recruitment, etc.

In addition, there is a patrol team formed voluntarily by the private sector, with a total of more than 200 people.

He had seen it on a documentary before. The most common thing the Paris police do nowadays is extortion! From vendors to criminals to victims, whoever is caught is beaten. As for fighting crime? Let's talk about it when we have time. After all, the money to buy a police job has to be earned first, right?

Therefore, maintaining law and order largely relies on private patrols, but they are voluntary workers, have no law enforcement rights, and have very crude weapons. They can only scare gangsters, not even arrest them.

Therefore, the truly usable police force is probably the more than 60 people recruited.