Taking Control of Paris Policing (Please Keep Reading)

Etienne pondered for a long time and decided he should personally visit Versailles Palace tomorrow to find out what was going on. After all, this loan was also an important business of Lavier Bank.

He had merely promised the Duke of Orléans that he would delay the loan until the final day; that did not mean he did not want this deal.

The next day.

In Joseph's reception room, Besançon and Friant sat ramrod-straight on sofas covered in Persian carpets.

Joseph gestured for them to have tea and smiled.

"It seemed things had gone fairly smoothly on your end."

Besançon had officially received his appointment as Police Commissioner of Paris. He first took out a document and respectfully handed it to Joseph.

"Your Highness, the assessment, reorganization, and training of police officers in every district of Paris have all been completed. A few days ago, the new police force began taking over public security."

"These are the recommended candidates for the main positions in the Police Department after the reorganization. Your final approval is still required."

Joseph opened the document and found a list of Police Department posts. Under every position were at least two candidates, along with detailed information about each of them.

Joseph gave it a rough look. Overall, it amounted to a complete changing of the guard among the officials of the entire Paris policing system.

Since the Saint-Antoine District had been the first to undergo Police Reform, the Saint-Antoine Faction accounted for nearly forty percent of the selected officials. Alden and Magoney had both been nominated as Police Commissioners.

The rest were police officers selected from the former force for their professional competence, integrity, and good reputations, promoted to various ranks of police officials. However, in accordance with Joseph's earlier requirements, all of them came only from minor noble or commoner backgrounds.

A very small portion were Besançon's own people.

Joseph nodded. From this list, he could see that Besançon had put great care into Police Reform and possessed considerable ability as well. Once this batch of officials was replaced, Paris's policing system could be said to be entirely in his hands.

He checked off Alden and several others he knew relatively well, leaving the rest for Besançon to decide. Trust those you employed and grant your subordinates greater authority; only then could they serve you better.

Besançon continued.

"Your Highness, as for those former police officers, I took it upon myself to establish a Daily Affairs Team responsible for such work as river supervision and sanitation cleanup, and transferred them all into this team."

Joseph knew he meant those who had paid their way into the police force. Since they had contracts with City Hall, they truly could not simply be dismissed. Sending them off to manage city sanitation was not a bad idea.

"Mm, that is a very good arrangement."

Besançon finally added cautiously.

"Your Highness, the new uniforms have been custom-made, and the equipment has also been replaced. It is only the funding..."

Joseph smiled and waved a hand.

"Just write me a report stating how much you need."

"Yes. Thank you, Your Highness."

Joseph now held the franchise fees from Paris Angel franchisees, along with the bank shares invested by everyone from the King to Cabinet ministers, as well as Paris Angel Company's operating revenue. Together, they amounted to more than 3.1 million Livres.

He truly did not take the Paris Police Department's paltry expenses to heart.

Once Besançon had finished his report, Friant immediately said,

"Your Highness, the first intake of students for the Paris Police Academy has been completed, with a total of 201 students. I plan to officially begin classes in a week. Would you have time to come and preside over the opening ceremony?"

"So soon? Of course I'll go." Joseph was greatly surprised. Half a month ago, the Police Academy had still been nothing more than an idea in his mind, yet it would actually begin classes in a week?!

Friant said,

"Your Highness, following your instructions, I purchased a two-hectare plot of land in the Saint-Antoine District. There are quite a few buildings on it. Though somewhat dilapidated, they can barely serve as school buildings after a few repairs."

"Furthermore, when the citizens of the Saint-Antoine District learned that it was a Police Academy established by Your Highness, they all came to help for free. Work such as leveling the training ground was completed in only a week."

Besançon added,

"Your Highness, in fact, since last week, I have been rotating one hundred police officers a day to the Police Academy for training. Though the academy is rather rudimentary at present, it has no problem conducting ordinary training."

This Friant really was a talent. His efficiency was so high that he hardly seemed like someone from the eighteenth century!

Such a subordinate had to be richly rewarded!