Gendarmerie: Saint-Martin now has a research section
Up until then, investigations were conducted by the investigators of the research brigade, or BR, of the Saint-Martin gendarmerie. Since October 1, this will be done by the gendarmes of the research section (SR). The SR will replace the BR. However, the Saint-Martin SR is not an independent unit. It reports to the one in Guadeloupe. Therefore, one should say the detached research section of Saint-Martin, SRD.
In February, Squadron Leader Sébastien Manzoni and his teams requested this change from the Director General of the National Gendarmerie during his visit to Saint-Martin. "It was found that the gendarmes of the BR had a job similar to those of an SR", reported Captain Emmanuel Maignan, deputy commander. However, they didn’t have the same resources and honors.
From the point of view of the chain of command, the SR is above the BR. Overall, a research brigade is the equivalent of a company and the SR is on the scale of a department. Moreover, the recruitment of gendarmes in the SR is more selective. Specific training is mandatory. And in terms of material means, the SR is better equipped.
In concrete terms, the ground work in Saint-Martin will not change. The fifteen gendarmes of the ex-BR will remain the same, their workload will remain the same as well as their salary. On the other hand, when they ask to be transferred to another position, they will be able to join an SR and no longer a BR. The future gendarmes assigned here will also have better skills.
The Saint-Martin SRD should also be provided with more efficient equipment.
Finally, "this will give greater visibility for Saint-Martin," said Captain Maignan. "The information will go directly to Paris and no longer through Guadeloupe," he explained.
A look back at our coffee break with… Laurent Rubeo-Lisa, Chief Warrant Officer within the Saint-Martin criminal investigations cell. Before leaving for the mainland in July last year, he granted us an interview in order to talk about about his work in the field.
