A New York police car in front of the Madeleine Church (8th arrondissement) has an effect. One by one, the curious parade, approach and end up taking a photo in front of it. However, no NCIS, Brooklyn 99 or Manhattan CSI agents around. But a sign that says “Ephemeral police exhibition”. If the goal was to attract attention, it’s won.
“She catches the eye, eh,” smiles Quentin Gourdin (an aptonym), police officer and president of thePolice Fraternity association. Indeed, the hook is successful. All that remains is to enter the shop located just behind.
Goodies bearing the image of the different police services
The place is unique, surprising. This shop is full of objects and goodies, all dedicated to the police. A sort of souvenir shop but with badges from the CSI (Intervention and Security Company), mugs from the BAC du 93 or even champagne from the Criminal Brigade. A little lunar for the uninformed.
“Our association is one year old. We have around 200 members and the goal is to create a link between the associations of all the police forces in France,” explains Quentin Gourdin. Because yes, like the ASPTT or the “Gazelecs” (athletes will understand), the different police services have associations to bring together their members. And as we wear a Plaintel Sport Football or Union Montilienne Sportive Basket sweatshirt, we can also wear a BRI (Research and Intervention Brigade) t-shirt.
For a good cause
“Not all friendships are established in the street. And this store allows them to sell their objects and thus keep them alive,” says the president of the association, which organizes sports tournaments and other events throughout the year between the 30 structures that are members today. The only condition imposed by the association: for each event, part of the winnings must be donated to a good cause.
“Last year we organized a big paintball challenge. Each association represented an association of sick children, cancer victims, orphans, etc. And everyone won a check to give back to this association. » This is also the case for the pop-up store, part of the profits from which will support the association 1,2,3 Springboard which helps children suffering from autistic disorders.
Get out of everyday life and the image of the “rough cop”
But the objective, as laudable as it may be, is not unique. Indeed, if the association brings together so many members, it is because the internal demand is present according to Quentin Gourdin: “It is often said that the police are very unionized. But they are also very committed. Because they need relief valves in a society that is becoming increasingly harsh. On a daily basis, certain services are often subject to violence and repression. However, we become a police officer to serve the public. »
If he denies wanting to make this exhibition an object of pro-police communication, all the elements are there. “It’s true that the car is a nod to pop culture. It enters the collective unconscious. We remember the cops from American films and series from our childhood. It brings out the image of the redneck cop, open shirt and all hair out with a southwest accent,” laughs the police officer, who specifies that the vehicle will be replaced this Saturday by another from the Los Angeles police. .
Police influencers and book signings
No French car planned, “people would think of an intervention”, but personalities who follow one another in the shop. Cops known from social networks like Abdoulaye Kanté, scheduled for this weekend, or Perrine Sallé, spokesperson for “Angry Women of the Forces of Order”. A studio has even been set up in the basement to organize filmed interviews, which will then be shared online.
Other police officers, less well known, also pass through the store. Authors of books and comics about law enforcement come to sign their works. “It allows visitors to discuss the profession and experiences. In any case, most of the people who come here already have a positive preconception about the police,” confides Quentin Gourdin, lucidly.
An audience already won over
“For example, this one (he shows a young man rummaging through the t-shirts on display), he has the profile to pursue a career later. He is going to study in a security sector, an internship with the fire brigade, and one day he will find his place in a brigade,” explains the police officer, confident of himself.
Teasing, we wanted to test his bloodhound flair. Once out of the store, we question the young person in question. It’s bingo. A cybersecurity student, Baptiste* is a volunteer firefighter and gendarmerie reservist. “I found out about the pop-up store via an Instagram story. I follow all police-related accounts. But I don’t want to be quoted…” He already has all the codes.
Until Sunday
More talkative than the four Brav-M police officers who have just arrived on motorbikes and who, masked, refuse to speak, he is already defending his future colleagues “It’s normal, they must maintain a certain reserve” , he explains, impressed in the same way as all the visitors to the store, as if he had seen the Avengers arrive.
Romain* also dreams of a career in an intervention brigade and sees them as superheroes: “We too often forget how difficult their job is and how much they dedicate themselves to our safety. » Fanny is not in the police, but she came to find a gift for her sister, a police officer in Val-de-Marne: “I would like to give her something for her birthday. »
If she’s eyeing a bottle of champagne bearing the image of the drug squad (nice wink), she’d better hurry because the shop is closing its doors this Sunday.