The dysfunctions within the “CSI 93”, of which the prefect of police Didier Lallement announced the dissolution, are not new. Already in 2015, the administration transferred 21 officials from this security and intervention company dedicated to Seine-Saint-Denis.
The collective sanction, decided “in the interest of the service” targeted police officers who had taken sick leave on December 31, 2014. They were protesting against the sudden change in the schedule of a crew, shifted from evening to day.
In our columns on July 2, a police officer, on condition of anonymity, justified this change in schedule by racist remarks made by some of these 21 police officers.
PODCAST. Rackets, violence, racism … these police officers from Seine-Saint-Denis at the heart of the scandal
“This case has nothing to do with racist remarks, otherwise there would have been reports to the prosecution and disciplinary action. There was actually a problem with the hierarchy, which systematically favored certain units (Editor’s note: the CSI brings together police officers in uniform, in civilian clothes, bikers). The outfit was put aside and this change of schedule on December 31 at the last moment, and that was the last straw, ”argue several officials of the“ gang of 21 ”that we have joined. They too want to remain anonymous.
A “deleterious climate” putting “in danger the company”
In an internal letter that we obtained, written in March 2015 by Jacques Méric, the director of the agglomeration police in the context of transfers, no mention of racist remarks. On the other hand, it is described on two pages a “deleterious climate”, putting “in danger the company as a whole”.
It was at the time of the roll call, December 30, 2014. A lieutenant then explained the change in schedule. “What must be done to have the manager on call? Block the service on the 31st or be ill? ” would then have asked for a peacekeeper.
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The essential of 93
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The rest, we can read in the mail, is a “general hubbub”, the chief sergeant who comes out of line twice, calls for an interview. End of the call. A dozen officials then locked themselves in the officers’ office and held a meeting there for an hour and a half, reports the letter. The brigadier-chief, he learns from the head of department that he is excluded from the evening device because he “had not carried out any training in urban violence for more than a year”.
Rain of sick leave
The next day, 21 police officers were brought in pale, with sick leave in their pocket. Four had to work during the day, the others in the evening. “This situation represented nearly 40% of the volume of forces (…). These work stoppages therefore forced the hierarchy to urgently review the entire system set up for the New Year’s Eve service, ”recalls the letter, in support of the transfer request.
“Fortunately, no incident was to be deplored during this perilous night (…) but this event had serious consequences, both operational and on the image of the company with the officials of the territorial management and the prefect of the department. The work had to be transferred to the police officers present, the reduction of the potential weakening the interventions. ”
Police officers suspected of throwing a package of drugs at the feet of a man
Two categories of slingers are distinguished: “Those who claim that there was no problem of atmosphere in the company and with the officers, delivering monolithic and laconic answers allowing to doubt their sincerity. And on the other hand, those, whose [le brigadier-chef et deux gardiens de la paix] who point the finger at major concerns within the company […]. This distrust is latent within the staff of the “unit held” between them, but also with the specialized components of the CSI, making it difficult for the management of the company by the hierarchy ”specifies the director.
“It was not opportune to initiate a dispute”
Attempts to reach Jacques Méric, director now retired, were unsuccessful. About ten police officers out of the 21 approached Maître Daniel Merchat to challenge this decision to the administrative court, without going through with it.
“In the meantime, some had integrated well into their new department where they were well received,” recalls the council. It was not opportune to initiate a dispute, the administration is like a bank, it returns with interest ”.
To date, according to our information, several officials transferred out of CSI 93 are still police officers in the field, including the chief brigadier initially targeted. Their hierarchy has remained in place. In the Bobigny court, there was no trace of criminal prosecution for racism against a CSI official at that time. A company, where in 2015 at least, it had been possible to remove police officers whom we no longer wanted.
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