Is the municipal police of Compiègne the best equipped in France? One thing is certain, the thirty agents of the second city of Oise (40,000 inhabitants) are today the antipodes of the image of Épinal of the pastoral guard. The "municipal" now have a real arsenal, renewed each year. Semi-automatic 9 mm caliber pistols, tonfas, flashballs, tasers, tear gas canisters, bulletproof vests, shields, pedestrian cameras, motorcycles to fight against rodeos, drones ... Recently, the agents were also equipped with tests saliva for the detection of narcotics (see elsewhere).
Enough to make their counterparts from other medium-sized French cities green with envy… as well as the national police officers of the imperial city. “We, when we ask for something, it is the cross and the banner to have it. We are happy with what we have… ”, sighs one of them. Especially since a month ago, the municipal police of Compiègne also had a canine brigade specially dedicated to narcotics. A great first in the department, while the national police brigade has now disappeared.
There, the three handlers train their sleuths in a new skill: drug detection.
There is Apache, the youngest 5 months old, Hooker, 3 years old and Maloch, 4 years old, shepherds Tervueren and Malinois.
Trained to bite, as defense dogs, they acquire here a highly sought-after specificity.
Because no municipal police in the Hauts-de-France region today has an anti-stupid canine brigade validated by the prefecture and by a public prosecutor.
In France, Vannes (Morbihan), Pierrefitte or Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis) have their brigade, but with only one stupid dog… While in Compiègne, a fourth will even arrive in 2022.
Soon a new recruit to the Municipal Police of Compiègne! Apaches, this Belgian Shepherd Tervueren, 3 months old, ...
Posted by Compiègne and its agglomeration on Saturday, March 20, 2021
The dogs of the municipal canine brigade have been training for three weeks now on resin and cannabis flowers seized during operations.
"The two big ones are now operational," explains Cédric, the dog handler.
Apache, the little one, will be in the field in January.
For them, it's not a job, it's a game. We started with cannabis.
It's easier to detect.
The smell is strong.
They will then train on cocaine, heroin and crack.
Don't worry, there is no risk of addiction!
"
"The dog is already a deterrent, it will also be repressive"
These reinforcements are in any case welcome for the municipality which has launched three years ago in a real "war" against trafficking. "This device was complex to put in place for it to be legal," recognizes Philippe Marini, the mayor (LR) of Compiègne. There are municipal police forces with stupid dogs, but they do not have this state-justice partnership. They therefore have fewer options for action. "For the prosecutor of the Republic of Compiègne, Marie-Céline Lawrysz, it is even an" incredible step forward ". "The dog is already a deterrent, it will also be repressive," she appreciates. We will be able to deploy new legal strategies. "
These dogs will thus be required at his request to lend a hand to the national police or the judicial police (PJ) of Creil in the event of an intervention in Compiègne.
On the other hand, the mastiffs will not be able to intervene outside the city.
Compiègne, Thursday.
The dogs of the new municipal canine brigade are trained to detect all types of drugs.
Hooker, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois bank, is already operational to flush out cannabis.
He trains for other drugs, which are harder to detect.
Stephanie Forestier
With a new device, the municipal police intends to intervene even more to reinforce the national police during anti-narcotics operations.
“You have to keep typing where it hurts: in the wallet by being present all the time and by calling out to customers.
No customers, no traffic ”, summarizes the compiégnois commissioner Pierryck Boulet.
To read also On the point of dealing with the 2000 customers, the apprentice traffickers of the Oise provided "weed and heroin"
Anti-stupid operations are linked in the Clos-des-Roses district, considered today as the epicenter of trafficking.
Since the start of the year, more than 7 kg of cannabis, 2 kg of heroin, 30,500 euros and 3 weapons have been seized there.
Last Wednesday, nearly 900 g of various drugs were still discovered thanks to the "stupid dogs" of the national police coming ... from Aisne.
"Our dog team has disappeared at the option of transfers and retirements, but a new one will be formed after the summer", warns Eric Heip, the departmental director of public security (DDSP).
Will the municipal dogs of Compiègne be a useful reinforcement for its police officers?
"Yes and no," he evacuates.
They cannot be exploited on improvised investigations or controls.
It takes a requisition from the prosecution and it takes time.
"
300 saliva tests to detect drugs
Compiègne, Friday.
The municipal police now have 300 saliva tests for multi-drug screening.
LP / Stéphanie Forestier
Another way to track down cannabis, cocaine, crack, or heroin is saliva tests.
The municipal police received 300 of them. They will now be able to use them in the city.
“The drug trafficking does not end in some neighborhoods, says Joël De Araujo, the manager.
These tests will allow us to target consumers.
If they are caught, they incur a fine of up to 4,500 euros, 2 years in prison, immobilization of the vehicle and the loss of six points on the license.
"
But municipal officials have a legal framework to apply and cannot act freely. The tests are thus used at the request of the public prosecutor, under the control of a judicial police officer (OPJ) during a specific operation determined in advance targeting a specific deal point.
City police officers, on the other hand, are authorized to make use of the tests if they notice a traffic violation and notice the driver's suspicious behavior. They can thus perform the saliva test in addition to a blood alcohol test. “Despite everything, we must have the approval of the OPJ,” continues Joël De Araujo. But this is quick. If the test is positive, the offender is taken to the police station. The officer may also decide to have a blood test taken to confirm the first screening. The city of Compiègne has invested more than 3,000 euros in this device and intends to renew it regularly.