Are you considering becoming a Municipal Police Officer (PM)? Be aware that candidates are in high demand! Indeed, there are more than 4,000 positions to be filled in France. But do you know what these officers' duties involve? Which equipment is mandatory or authorized? What do you need to do to become a Municipal Police Officer? In this article, you will find the answers to your questions.
What is the role of the municipal police officer?
Under the authority of the Mayor, the Municipal Police Officer operates on public roads and in public spaces. Their main mission is prevention. They ensure the maintenance of order, peace and quiet, public safety and public health.
Every day, the Municipal Police Officer patrols the city on foot, by bicycle or by car. During organized events, they monitor entrances and manage vehicle traffic. They also check individuals behaving inappropriately or illegally, record offenses and issue fines. In the course of their duties, close contact with the public is essential. In public spaces, the PM is the go-to contact for people in distress or otherwise.
While the law allows Municipal Police Officers to access CCTV footage of public spaces, they cannot conduct judicial investigations. Nor are they able to take complaints. In such cases, they support the National Police and Gendarmerie services by recording the facts and referring victims of offenses or crimes to them.
What equipment is authorized for municipal police officers?
The Municipal Police Officer wears a regulation uniform that looks similar to that of other law enforcement bodies, yet remains different. Dark blue and marked Police Municipale, the uniform comes in several versions:
– Jacket and parka,
– Matte or satin-finish trousers,
– Sweatshirt, shirt or t-shirt, short or long sleeves
– Cap and helmet, which must feature a specific reflective band.
Strict regulations also apply to footwear. Shoes must be black with laces, low-cut or high-top. Socks must be black, dark gray or dark blue.
To operate in complete safety, personal protective equipment is essential: shell or reinforced garments or a ballistic vest. However, they may only carry a firearm for self-defense by decision of the mayor. In 2021, only 58% were equipped with 9 mm or 7.65 mm pistols with a holster or .38 caliber revolvers with their holster.
The other officers may choose from:
- Defense sprays,
- Baton, telescopic baton, defense baton, tonfa type
- Taser and/or flash-ball.
To discover all our products dedicated to the Municipal Police, log in to our restricted area.
What are the requirements to become a municipal police officer?
First of all, being a Municipal Police Officer means having the right aptitudes. They must stay calm in all circumstances, have natural authority and a predisposition for mediation.
If you have these qualities, you can try the competitive examination. However, you must meet certain conditions:
- Be at least 1.71 meters tall for male candidates and 1.63 meters for women.
- Hold French nationality
- Hold the Diplôme National du Brevet (DNB), another level 3 qualification (CAP, BEP, BEPC, etc.) or provide proof of at least 3 years of full-time professional experience in a job of equivalent level. This requirement does not apply to fathers and mothers of at least three children or to high-level athletes.
- Have a criminal record extract (bulletin no. 2) containing no entry incompatible with the exercise of the duties,
- Have completed the Defense and Citizenship Day (except for candidates over 25).
- No age limit.
If you meet all the conditions, you can register for one of the two sessions. To take part in the examination, you must obtain an application file from the departmental management center website: consult the CDG directory.
How does the Municipal Police officer examination work?
Passing the Municipal Police officer examination is essential. Depending on candidates' experience, there are 2 types of examination:
- The external examination, reserved for people outside the civil service,
- The internal examination, reserved for Public Highway Surveillance Officers of the territorial civil service (ASVP (municipal traffic warden)), military volunteers of the Gendarmerie and Security Assistants (ADS) of the National Police
The examination takes place in several stages:
- Stage 1: two written eligibility tests in French, including the drafting of an intervention report. If their score is sufficient, candidates must then pass the oral and sports admission tests. A score below 5/20 in either of these two tests is eliminatory.
- Stage 2: Psychotechnical tests to assess the psychological ability to react to and face certain events. They are not graded and are forwarded to the panel for the 3rd stage.
- Stage 3: The oral admission test: The aim is to assess the candidate's motivation to become a Municipal Police Officer by questioning them on how all French institutions work.
- Stage 4: The sports test includes a 100-meter run and one event of your choice: high jump, long jump, shot put (6 kg for men, 4 kg for women) or swimming: dive start, 50 meters freestyle. The choice is made at the time of registration for the examination.
After the examination, how does taking up the post work?
Successful candidates cannot take up their duties immediately because, at the end of the examination, they have no assignment. They must follow a protocol that includes mandatory training.
The first requirement is to be recruited by a municipality in order to begin training. Then, for 6 months, they will be a trainee. CNFPT professionals will train them, alternating theory and practice. In the field, they are accompanied by their tutor, a PM trained by the CNFPT.
Note that former military personnel, gendarmes or National Police officers must follow this training for 3 months.
At the end of this paid training, Municipal Police Officers are tenured by the Mayor and commit to serving for at least 3 years.
The final step: taking the oath, after the Public Prosecutor and the Prefect have validated their rank of Municipal Police officer. They can now patrol and carry out their mission.