PLUNGER GENDARME: SUBCQUATIC INVESTIGATOR

They were one of the major attractions of this fifteenth edition: the diving gendarmes allowed the show's public to discover the investigative techniques of underwater investigators. They also explain to us how they are trained, and where they intervene in their daily missions.

DEMONSTRATION IN THE POOL

In the living room swimming pool, a reconstructed crime scene: around, underwater investigators pick up the clues, analyze all the elements, before preparing the body to be reassembled. And if the demonstration was made of course using a mannequin, it nevertheless allowed spectators to understand how the gendarmes work in real conditions. Underwater, before touching anything, and taking care not to swim above the site so as not to move anything, they must draw the scene, look around the body for any objects likely to provide information , pick up any trace of a blow, any visible bullet impact ...

HOW TO BECOME A UNDERWATER INVESTIGATOR

At the start, they are all gendarmes, but not necessarily divers. And to become underwater investigators, then possibly continue their studies to become an underwater investigation technician or a higher underwater technician, the road is long. For those who have passed the selection tests, 5 weeks of internship at the Antibes Center, then 18 months in the field within a unit, before returning 4 weeks to Antibes are necessary to access the first level of training. Patrick Neveu, squadron leader, explains to us in detail how training takes place.

DAILY ON THE GROUND

The divers of the gendarmerie are all attached either to a river brigade or to a coastal unit. Laurent Breil, underwater identification technician at the Conflans-Sainte-Honorine river brigade, also went through the training center. He explains to us what their different missions are, in the field, on a daily basis. Sometimes at crime scenes, but also to ensure our safety as divers, by controlling diving clubs at sea, but also underwater!