French Police Officers Grapple with Morale and Misconduct, Sparking Resignations

Florent Gensollen, a police officer from a privileged Parisian background, exemplifies the inner turmoil many French police officers face, leading some to resign. Despite holding a law degree and entering policing with the goal of public service, Gensollen encountered a police culture marked by inappropriate jokes, racism, and troubling conduct. He graduated 51st out of 100 from police school, assigned to violent crime units, but quickly became disillusioned. Witnessing violence during police custody and a harsh, vertical management style causing colleague distress, Gensollen questioned whether he was "really on the right side."

His experience, detailed in a report, highlights systemic issues undermining police morale and ethics within French forces. Officers described a workplace culture with significant psychological strain and misconduct concerns. This atmosphere has prompted some to leave the profession entirely.

Meanwhile, an unrelated but thematically adjacent incident involves journalist Thomas Legrand, who filed a complaint over the illegal recording and dissemination of a private conversation, an event raising questions about institutional integrity and privacy. This case follows similar tensions between public and private media entities in France.

The police resignations and ethical challenges underscore deep, ongoing struggles within French law enforcement regarding conduct, officer welfare, and public trust, with no immediate resolution in sight.