Home » News » Jean-François Meunier: from Angoulême to New York, the travelogue of a five-star cop

Jean-François Meunier: from Angoulême to New York, the travelogue of a five-star cop

Its mission: “Enhance cooperation” between the 2 nations’ companies. It contains particulars. This night on April 17, the ceremony for the five hundredth anniversary of the invention of New York will finish on the French consulate. Leaving the scene, Jean-François Meunier, in a swimsuit and spherical glasses, stops to greet the police crew on obligation in entrance of the constructing. “It is necessary to maintain {our relationships}. Allow them to see that their consideration is appreciated. »

It covers every little thing that may be of curiosity to the French authorities. Discover out about an investigation that concerned a Frenchman, give details about drug shipments “in order that the suspect will be arrested when he arrives on the airport”.

The President’s Man

His place additionally brings him to the guts of world diplomacy. Three weeks after his arrival, he led Emmanuel Macron’s go to to the UN. His function: to make sure that the safety necessities of the president adapt to the restrictions of the American police, and vice versa. Gold work. “I establish the precise folks (to speak to the French managers) and I ensure that everybody understands one another,” this excellent bilingual says. Sensitivity have to be taken under consideration. »

Through the New Yr 2024, he gave a tour of the safety system in Occasions Sq. to the prefects who had been delegated to the group of the Olympic Video games in Paris, in anticipation of the opening ceremony of the Seine.

Life separates the skyscrapers of New York from the bars of Grande-Garenne. Those the place Jean-François Meunier settled together with his mom and sister within the late Sixties, after the dying of his father. His grandfather Maxime turned a tutor. “He was a keeper of the peace in Angoulême. He went underground in the course of the struggle,” confirms the Carentais who returns to the area yearly.

the youth of Angoumois

Saint-Exupéry faculty, soccer matches behind the HLM and excursions with the MJC. “There have been some calm moments too. Racketeering. It is not straightforward when you don’t have anything to information you,” he recollects. {The teenager} is continuous his research on the Oisellerie agricultural highschool. Boarding faculty, nights on the Riverside, the evening membership on the Saint-Antoine bridge. He has one thought in thoughts: to turn out to be a forest ranger and do an internship in Canada. Journey, then.

Army service affords him publicity. “I used to be within the gendarmerie and I favored the missions. » For him, it is going to be the blue home. In October 1988, he went to the police academy, specializing in air and border police. All the time this want for an additional place. He graduated with distinction as the perfect sportsman and spent six years at Orly airport, the place he met his spouse, Sandrine, who was then a salesman in ready-made shops.

I’m wondering if we may have prevented this assault.

She all the time dreamed of residing in New York. Eureka. In 1997, Jean-François Meunier joined the safety service of the French mission to the UN. In 2000, he was transferred for a similar mission to the French embassy in Amman, Jordan. His function? “Verify the entrances and exits, that the doorways that have to be closed are closed. » This fast-paced every day life has one benefit: “We had loads of down time. » He takes benefit of the vacations to organize for the officer’s examination.

Return to high school and an internship on the Bordeaux police station. There, he discovered area work. “Judicial, highway, narcotics police…” He was assigned to Boulogne-Billancourt, within the suburbs of Paris, with the rank of lieutenant. A ten 12 months chapter begins which can see him be a part of investigative companies. “One of the fulfilling moments of my profession. We really feel helpful in folks’s every day lives. »

Towards terrorism and intelligence

The Charlie Hebdo assaults in 2015 “woke up his worldwide spirit”. He goes from road nook criminals to criminals on the finish of the world, inside the Directorate Common of Inner Safety (DGSI). From what he can reveal, he manages cooperation with international intelligence companies.

Thalys, Bataclan, Good, Brussels… He noticed the assaults hitting Europe from the within. “We felt like we had been at struggle. » Within the minutes after the explosions on the Stade de France, on November 13, 2015, “we arrange an emergency unit with out figuring out how or when it would finish. » After restful nights comes a headache within the morning. “I’m wondering if we may have prevented this assault. It’s tough as a result of successes are usually not acknowledged. » Within the battle in opposition to terrorism, solely failures mark historical past.

We ready the recordsdata, the questions for the federal government.

In 2020, he rubbed shoulders with politics, as an data adviser to the workplace of the Minister of the Inside Christophe Castaner. “We ready the recordsdata, the questions for the federal government. » Frenetic 16-hour days. In October of this 12 months, it took benefit of a redesign to get some recent air.

Heading to the Hautes-Alpes and the course of the territorial intelligence service, underneath the authority of chief government Martine Clavel… now primarily based in Charente. The civil service has “glorious reminiscences” of this “sq., skilled” commander, with a Swiss Military knife profile. “It provides him quite a lot of views on conditions. » Among the many burning points: unlawful immigration and wolves.

In September 2022, Jean-François Meunier might be packing his baggage once more. “Expatriate life affords an open thoughts and representing the Ministry of the Inside in New York is a prestigious place. » A golden seat earlier than you retire? “The query arises. My spouse has put her skilled life apart, I am not usually there on weekends. »

The couple is considering their outdated days within the nation. “I miss nature,” admitted this lover of mountain climbing and mushrooms. Why not within the South West. Like getting again to fundamentals.

In dates

11 April 1966: born in Soyaux
1988: he entered the police academy after which the air and border police
1997: first put up overseas, on the French UN mission, in New York
2002: he’s assigned to the Boulogne-Billancourt police station
2015: he joins the DGSI, inner intelligence
2021: it takes what it accommodates of territorial data within the Hautes-Alpes
September 2022: he will get a place as a liaison officer in New York

2024-05-22 04:00:00
#JeanFrançois #Meunier #Angoulême #York #travelogue #fivestar #cop

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