Original subtitles

*-Bastards!

Protesters shouting

*-Come on, shift left!

Tighten up!

Tighten up!

- Do you recognize each other?

I'm asking again.

Do you recognize yourself in these images?

- Yes.

- Can you describe what you're doing?

- I pick up a paving stone and throw it.

- Toward the protesters? - Yes.

I didn't really throw it at them. In their direction, yes.

- We'll come back to that.

- Did I hit anyone? - I'm the one asking questions.

In these images, do you see

projectiles being thrown by the protesters?

- Not at that moment.

But before, yes. There were plenty.

We took projectiles all day long.

And 2 minutes before, my commander got hit in the face with a stone.

He had lifted his visor so we could hear him.

And the protesters applauded.

- Okay.

Let's go back to when you throw the stone.

How do you justify your action?

- I don't know.

I've been doing riot control for 15 years.

I've never been questioned before,

this is the first time I'm being questioned by the IGPN.

I just snapped.

I couldn't take it anymore.

- OK.

- Do you know if I risk being suspended?

- I don't know.

Suspension depends on the administrative investigation.

You'll be questioned by another investigator.

- I don't know how to do anything else but police work.

- That wasn't an appropriate action.

He did it out of anger, shocked at seeing his superior hurt.

*-Given the video, it's hard to overlook.

A riot officer throwing a stone damages the police's image.

It's a retaliatory act, using an unauthorized weapon.

It's serious. Very serious, actually.

- Of course. But he admits his mistake

and regrets it. No one was injured.

We must consider the context, the fatigue.

*-His lawyer will argue all that at trial.

You'll send me the report? - Understood.

*-Is your office on duty this weekend?

- No, it's office 2.

*-Let's hope it's less chaotic than last weekend.

Goodbye, Ms. Bertrand. - Goodbye, Mr. Deputy Prosecutor.

[Tension music]

[Protesters shouting]

- You bunch of bastards!

Projectiles and breaking glass

- Bastards!

*-Final warning before use of force!

Final warning!

Whistles, projectiles, Molotov cocktails

- It was a chaotic Saturday, with several complaints.

The prosecutor's office decided

that we should handle the complaints

related to the Yellow Vests, regardless of severity.

- Even with injuries of less than 8 days?

- That's right.

Since Christelle and her office are overloaded,

I'm distributing the complaints.

- We're already handling 40 cases.

- I know. Stéphanie too.

Christelle has 50.

[Police sirens]

- The hospital told me to come here to file a complaint.

It's for my son, Guillaume.

- Is he a minor? - No. He's 20.

- Okay.

Since he's an adult, he's the one who needs to file it.

- He can't, he's in the hospital, he's in bad shape.

- I'll take your statement,

and then we'll see later with the doctors.

- How should I do this?

- Try to describe what happened simply.

- At the protest,

a police officer hit him with a 'Flash-Ball'.

- An 'LBD' shot.

Were you a witness to this?

- No.

I wasn't with Guillaume

when it happened.

We were together on the Champs Élysées,

but a scuffle separated us.

You came to protest with your son?

Yes.

We came as a family. I had my three children with me.

Antonin is the oldest,

and Sonia, and then Guillaume.

And also Rémi, Sonia's boyfriend.

He was with Guillaume when it happened.

You got separated

and Rémi was with Guillaume when it occurred.

And he told you how it happened?

Yes.

He found us when Guillaume went to the hospital.

Which hospital is your son at?

At 'Bichat' Hospital.

The firefighters took him there?

Yes, that's what Rémi told us.

Okay.

I need to hear from this Rémi.

Do you have his last name?

'Cordier'.

Where is he now?

He's in police custody.

Was he arrested by the officers who fired?

No, no. He was arrested later.

He appeared before a judge.

In immediate appearance? Yes.

Was he convicted?

I don't know.

I haven't slept much.

I've been at the hospital for two nights.

I don't understand why they shot my son.

Right in the head!

My son isn't a rioter, quite the opposite.

He has a job. He's an apprentice electrician.

We came to protest for public services.

In 'Saint-Dizier', they're closing everything.

You're from 'Saint-Dizier'?

Yes.

Yes. Do you know it?

No. Doesn't matter.

'Saint-Dizier' or anywhere else, it's all the same.

Same as...?

They don't care about us.

We'll put all this in writing.

Hello?

Mom, it's Stéphanie.

Hello, sweetheart. Are you okay? Yes.

With everything that's happening...

I'm fine. Does the name 'Girard' family mean anything?

From 'Saint-Dizier'?

'Girard'?

'Joëlle Girard', 48 years old,

three children in their twenties.

No. That doesn't ring a bell at all.

There are lots of 'Girards' here,

it's common. I can ask your father.

No, no. It was just curiosity.

Why?

Nothing, it's work-related.

Are you investigating them?

No, mom. I'm investigating the police.

Well, they could be police.

Never mind, it's fine. Who are her parents?

I have no idea. Drop it.

[Cat meowing]

Who are you?

How did you get back here?

[Cat meow]

Come here.

What are we going to do with you?

[Cat meow]

*'YouTube tutorial in English'

*-For the past few days, the neighborhood has been barricading,

while police deploy on the Champs-Élysées.

There are more police than last week.

The gendarmerie's armored vehicles have been deployed.

In an extremely tense context,

the government holds its breath and shopkeepers

protect a lifetime of work.

The question remains whether wooden boards will be enough

to prevent looting...

[Phone ringing]

[TV sound cuts off]

- Yes, honey.

*-Am I bothering you?

- No, I'm fine. Where are you?

*-I'm in Dad's car.

People are fighting. - What do you mean?

*-Two guys got into it, they're hitting each other.

Look.

You see? - Yes.

*-Oh, shit!

*-Want another one?

- Don't move from the car. Where's your dad?

*-Wait.

- You didn't answer me,

are you alone? Where's your dad?

*-He's running.

- He's running? But where are you?

*-At Choisy Lake.

Dad wanted me to run, but I got tired of it.

I'm waiting for them. - Who's he with?

*-Noélie, his new girlfriend.

- Ah.

*-She's a cop.

- In narcotics with him?

*-I know she's a cop.

I have photos, want to see her?

- Oh, no, no, no.

What do you want me to do with it?

*-To see what she looks like. I won't tell her.

- No way.

That's not done.

And I'm not interested. Hold on.

I have a new friend too.

*-He's so cute.

[Laughter]

Did you buy him?

- I found him in the building's garage.

*-Are we keeping him? - I don't think so.

It's a responsibility

an animal. *-I'll take care of him.

- Yeah, right...

We'll talk about it Monday.

Don't move. I'm calling your dad.

[Dial tone]

*-Yes. - It's Steph.

*-Yeah. Hey.

- You're leaving Victor sitting on a parking lot? That sucks.

*-It doesn't suck. He ran with us,

and he stopped, he was tired.

- Two guys were fighting near the car.

*-What?

I told him to call me if there's a problem. Why's he calling you?

- Maybe he didn't want to bother you.

*-Ah, OK, fine. I see.

- No, no, you don't see anything. I don't care who you run with,

but you don't leave Victor alone on a parking lot.

*-I'm going back to the car to see what's happening.

Bye. - Bye.

- We, Stéphanie Bertrand, police commander at the IGPN,

request or if necessary require Bichat Hospital to inform us

of the health status of Mr. Girard Guillaume,

admitted to your services on December 8, 2018,

and to inform us when his health status

will allow for questioning.

- We request or if necessary require Captain

of the Paris Fire Brigade to provide us

with all elements related to a rescue intervention,

dated 8-12-2018, involving

a male subject aged 20

named Girard Guillaume, in the Triomphe sector 75008.

- We request or if necessary require the Sentencing Bureau

to tell us which penitentiary facility

Mr. Rémi Cordier was transferred to

following his conviction

on December 10, 2018 before the Paris criminal court.

- Let us note we received a response

to the request sent to the fire department.

This letter reports an intervention

dated December 8, 2018, at 6:43 PM,

on Magellan Street, in the 8th district.

- Let us note we received a response

from the trauma department of Bichat Hospital

to request No. 2018-0023.

This email contains a medical certificate

of Mr. Guillaume Girard's injuries.

The findings are as follows:

quintuple craniofacial fracture extending to the temporal bone,

craniocerebral wound

with severe subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The hematoma and injuries are consistent with impact

from 'LBD 40' ammunition. Mr. Girard suffers

from aphasia and post-traumatic stress

and is not currently able to testify.

Please find attached an authorization from the prosecutor

to hear inmate Rémi Cordier

and we ask you to propose a date and time

for his hearing

at your facility, at the Fleury-Mérogis detention center.

[Beeping]

[Door opening]

- Hello, Mr. Cordier. I'm Commander Bertrand from the IGPN,

the General Inspectorate of the National Police.

My colleague, Major Guérini.

We're investigating the causes of Mr. Girard's injuries.

You were with him when it happened. Is that correct?

- Yeah.

- We'd like to hear from you as a witness.

- I don't even know how he's doing.

- His life is no longer in danger,

but he can't be questioned.

- What does that mean?

Will he have lasting effects?

- I don't know.

- Those bastards beat him up when he didn't do anything.

- Lower your tone.

Speak properly, please.

- Did you find them?

The cops who did that?

- We ask the questions. - Because you'll believe me?

In court, they didn't listen to me.

It lasted 5 minutes. All that mattered

was a police report that said

that I hit the cops. That's false.

- We're not here

to investigate your arrest,

but what happened to Mr. Girard.

We need your testimony to understand.

- If it's my word against theirs, it's useless.

- Who did you come to protest with in Paris?

- Sonia, her brothers and her mother. - Sonia, Antonin,

Guillaume and Joëlle Girard? - Mmh.

- We arrived from Saint-Dizier in the morning.

It was Anto and I who came up with the idea.

- We're not really Yellow Vests.

My mother and Rémi are nursing assistants,

I'm a stretcher bearer.

We're fed up with being paid peanuts,

so we wanted to participate.

And it was a chance to come to Paris.

- SHE TOLD ME TO GO WHISTLE UP ON THE HILL

TO WAIT FOR HER WITH A SMALL BOUQUET OF WILD ROSES

I PICKED FLOWERS

AND I WHISTLED AS MUCH AS I COULD

I WAITED, WAITED SHE NEVER CAME

ZAÏ-ZAÏ-ZAÏ-ZAÏ

- Joëlle! - Zaï-zaï-zaï-zaï

- Come on, mom! - ZAÏ-ZAÏ-ZAÏ-ZAÏ

- Zaï-zaï-zaï-zaï - Oh hey!

- Yeah! - Wooh-oh!

[Horn honks]

[Cheers]

- Let's go!

- To Paris!

- Do you protest often? - No.

It's the first time I've come to Paris.

We parked the car near a gate.

- We didn't know where the protest was.

We walked along the Seine.

- We got stopped several times.

- Don't you want to come with us?

No, you don't want to?

- Stop filming!

- We walked a lot, my feet hurt.

- We took the opportunity to do some sightseeing.

It was a chance.

- Ah, wow! Look.

- It was a change from Saint-Dizier.

- We joined Yellow Vests heading to the Champs Élysées.

- On the Champs Élysées, there were crowds.

- We could smell the tear gas.

Things were heating up near the Arc de Triomphe.

There was a helicopter overhead.

- We wanted to leave, we got blocked by police.

MACRON DOESN'T WANT THIS

BUT WE'RE HERE!

WE'RE HERE

WE'RE HERE

EVEN IF MACRON DOESN'T WANT THIS WE'RE HERE

- They ended up throwing tear gas at us.

- Come on, come on.

- We took shelter in a laundromat.

A protester got arrested, it was scary.

- Ah! Aaaah! Damn!

- Come on, move! Calm down! Oh!

- Ah!

Ouch! Damn!

- Then it started getting dark.

We tried to go back through the Champs Élysées to leave.

- It wasn't possible. It's...

Tear gas was falling everywhere.

People were running everywhere.

- We realized we had lost Guillaume and Rémi.

- We didn't know where they'd gone.

- Guillaume and I ended up in the streets,

we'd lost the others.

- Okay, continue.

- We tried to head back to the Champs Élysées.

Then cops showed up and started shooting at us.

- They shot at you with no reason?

- Yeah. We were walking down a street,

they came from an intersection on the right.

I took off running, I thought Guillaume was behind me.

When I didn't see him, I went back.

The cops were gone.

Guillaume was on the ground.

His head was covered in blood.

I panicked and called the paramedics.

- Were the officers in uniform or plainclothes?

- Plainclothes, I think.

- Were they wearing police armbands?

- I don't know, I didn't see.

- How do you know they were police?

- What kind of question is that?

They were cops, they had 'Flash-Ball' guns.

- Did you act hostile? - No.

- You didn't say anything,

didn't make any gestures? - No.

I ran and yelled at Guillaume to get out of there.

- Why?

- "Why?" I was scared.

They had their weapons raised!

- Did you commit looting

or violence against police? - No.

- Are you sure?

- Yes.

- Your phone has videos of burning cars.

Did you

participate in this kind of vandalisme?

- No.

- Are you drawn to or fascinated by violence?

- No.

- Why did you film the cars then?

- I don't know.

It was...

- What was it? - It was...

- I don't know.

- Are you politically active? - What do you mean?

- Are you part of a political movement, extreme

right or far left? - No.

I'm not interested in politics.

- Mr. Cordier, you were arrested around 7:40 PM,

an hour after the incident, for insult, rebellion and violence.

Explain the circumstances of your arrest?

- I stayed in the streets to find the cops.

- Why? - I was angry.

I wanted to find them.

To photograph them, film them.

To have proof.

- Proof of what?

- Well, it was them, that they were there.

- And then?

- I found myself facing riot police with other protesters.

They blocked the way, threw tear gas at us.

I was so angry that I insulted them.

Some cops rushed at me

and threw me to the ground.

- You struck the officers.

- That's false. They hit me, not the other way around.

- Among the videos,

in your phone,

one shows the paramedics helping Mr. Girard.

Why did you film that?

- To show what the cops did to Guillaume.

*-What happened? *-He got hit with a 'Flash-Ball'.

*-In the head? *-In the head.

*-It's a 'Flash-Ball' shot. We're taking him.

*-OK, got it.

*-Careful lifting. Lift.

Please, sir, let us work.

- Was it around here? - The ambulance was here.

- There are no blood traces visible anymore.

- The cleaning service must have come the next day.

They cleaned everything.

- Here, they don't waste time.

- What hotel is this the back of?

- Prince of Wales.

- We request and if necessary require

the management of logistics services

to provide us with the video recording

of the following 'PZVP' cameras for the day

of December 8, 2018, from 4 PM to 8 PM:

camera 08021, George V Avenue, Trémoille Street.

camera 08371, Champs Élysées, corner of Bassano Street,

camera 08115, Pierre 1st of Serbia Avenue,

camera 73532, Champs Élysées, corner of George V,

camera 08118, Marbœuf Street, George V Avenue.

- It's camera 08115, Pierre 1st of Serbia Avenue.

At the back of the confrontation, in the distance,

a group of 5 people enters Georges Bizet Street.

We can barely see them, but we pick them up

on the clinic camera on Georges Bizet Street.

The timestamps match. 6:17 PM for the 'PZVP',

6:18 PM for Georges Bizet.

They're in plainclothes and wearing helmets.

The first two seem to be carrying 'LBD' weapons.

At least the first one.

The second one has shin guards.

You see that? - Mm-hmm.

Finally, at 18:22, I pick them up on camera

from an ATM on Avenue Marceau

Rue de Chaillot. It's the same group

if you compare the sneakers.

You can see the shin guards.

Three of them are equipped with 'LBD'.

The other two have telescopic batons.

'LBD', baton, baton, and 'LBD'.

If you follow their progression on a map,

they come from Pierre 1st of Serbia,

then Georges Bizet.

They must have turned onto Rue de Chaillot, up to Avenue Marceau.

They end up across from Quentin Bauchart.

They could have reached

Rue Quentin Bauchart which leads to Rue Magellan where Guillaume

was injured.

Go back to Georges Bizet?

What civilian units

were operating in that area at that time?

That's where it gets complicated.

We went through the operational telegram, the 'OPT',

the 'Pegasus' report, radio traffic.

For uniformed units, it's clear,

but for the 'BAC', the 'BRI', the 'CS', the 'CSI',

in the end, they moved of their own initiative.

The government was so panicked

that they called on everyone.

In truth, it was complete chaos.

What were your rank and role during the protest?

I'm a police captain,

I commanded the 'BAC' crews 11, 12, 19, and 20.

I'm a police major,

with under my command the 9 civilian sections

of the security company,

under the orders of Commander Baron.

Divisional Commissioner.

I commanded the 'BRI' forces.

The 'DGPN' had exceptionally asked us

to lend support to the disoriented mobile forces.

I was head of one of the rapid response units.

The 'DAR 5', made up of 25 officers,

from 'BAC' 93 and 92, and from police stations.

I'm a police major, I had 'BAC' 92 under my authority.

Can you specify what

your missions were? Prevent looting

and target violent individuals.

Target the rioters, protect uniformed colleagues.

The Republic was in danger,

we had to stop the insurrection.

We had to participate in the war effort.

Those were the instructions: save the Republic,

participate in the war effort? Yes.

Is crowd control your domain?

No.

No.

What are your missions?

You don't know the 'BRI'?

Answer my question,

please.

Intervention missions in the context of organized crime,

hostage situations and terrorism.

Fighting urban violence,

flagrant crimes in public.

Were you trained for crowd control?

No. Everything was done in a certain

rush. The government was panicked.

We were asked to intervene

with total improvisation.

Some had to get equipped at Decathlon.

What weapons did you have?

'LBD 40'.

'GM2L' grenades.

Our service weapons.

Breakout grenades and tear gas grenades.

Did you use your 'LBD40's?

Yes. We were facing very determined rioters.

Yes, of course. Many times.

Yeah. I authorized about sixty shots.

Did you fill out the forms for the shots?

I exempted my men from doing it, given the situation.

No. In such a context,

the 'TSUA' forms are filled out at the end of the shift

by indicating a broad time window.

We filled them out the next day, not for each shot.

You must do it.

Yes. Except it was impossible.

I'm telling you it was impossible.

It was almost insurrectional.

It wasn't standard crowd control.

Were there any shots

that caused firefighters to intervene?

Not that I know of.

Not from what I remember.

The people hit ran away.

I didn't see any injured.

I'm showing you an image taken on the evening of December 8th.

Could this be one of your units?

You can't see much.

No, I don't think so.

No.

Did you come across any units that would match

the group in these images?

No. Doesn't ring a bell.

Not that I recall, no.

No.

Éric found images matching our guys.

He found a video from a journalist

filming at the corner of Vernet and Bassano streets.

It's at 6:29 PM,

so 7 minutes after they passed

the ATM on Marceau Avenue.

You see, they appear there.

Same group, same number, same weapons.

We can see them better than in the other videos.

After that we don't see them.

Let me play it again closer.

The first two have LBDs,

the third one lowers his hood.

The last one also has an LBD.

And the third one, when he lowers his hood...

There.

There we go.

We can see his face quite clearly.

And there, there it is.

If they were on Marceau Avenue at 6:22 PM,

they could've gone through the street where Girard was wounded,

go up George V Avenue, and be at Vernet-Bassano at 6:29 PM.

I have screenshots where we see them best.

Did you see their helmets?

That's good.

Yeah!

- Oh! [Cheering]

[Applause]

- Damn!

- Yes!

[Upbeat music]

- Yeah, yeah.

- Oh no! One!

- Yes, magnificent!

It's annoying, she has a terrible style.

What? No, I wasn't talking about you.

I couldn't talk about you like that.

Come on!

No, the other hand. Come on, play.

- Wait, wait. Concentration.

- There, there's some spin. Look.

Oh wow!

Step up your game!

There's a steep drop. I'm getting drinks.

Want some? I'll come with you.

Oh oh. What?

My ex is here.

We'll take four more, please.

Hey! Hi. How are you?

Great. And you?

Well, you all? Hello.

Hello. Noélie. Stéphanie.

His ex. Victor's mom.

That's right. Okay.

Can I ask you something? Yes.

You work at the 'IGPN'? Yes.

And before that you were in narcotics? Yes, with Jérémy.

I wonder how you can go from one to the other.

How you can investigate colleagues

rather than criminals. Noélie.

I'm interested. It's not about that.

Really? No.

But I don't want to talk about it here.

We're here to relax. Of course, relax.

With the union, we're here to stick together.

Okay.

Does it bother you that I'm in the union?

Not at all.

We're here to defend our colleagues.

We're fed up with police-bashing.

With your investigations, you cast suspicion

on all police work.

I believe exactly the opposite. But anyway.

Steph, your turn.

That's nice!

Honor to the losers.

Come on!

- Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes!

[Cheering]

- This is the second time you've summoned me,

for a case that's not 'BRI' jurisdiction.

You're wasting your time and mine.

We have more important missions.

Nobody wants to waste time.

If you cooperate, it'll be quick.

Here are screenshots from a video

taken by a journalist that evening

of December 8, 2018.

Are these men from the 'BRI'?

- I don't know.

- There's one we can see clearly.

- I don't know who it is.

- What do you think of the helmets they're wearing?

- I don't think anything of them. - Three of these helmets

are 'Wendy' helmets from the BRI.

- I'm not a specialist.

- The other two have non-regulation helmets.

- You're bringing me here to find out

whether helmets are regulation or not?

- During your last hearing, you stated:

"We were asked to intervene with total improvisation.

"My men had to get equipped at Decathlon."

Do you confirm this statement? - I don't remember.

- I'm showing you the product sheet

of the 'Oxelo' helmet sold by Decathlon.

What do you think comparing it to the helmets in the images?

- I have no idea.

There's a resemblance, but nothing says they're the same.

My men aren't the only ones with their own helmets

or to have gotten equipped at Decathlon.

- We made requests to Decathlon stores

to find out who bought 'Oxelo' helmets before the protest.

We could save time,

if you provide us with the names of your personnel.

I can also summon all BRI members,

to identify those in the video.

But that would disrupt your operations.

Will you get back to me?

Let's note that the names of BRI members

provided by Commissioner Frédéric Picard are:

Clément Garcia, Michel Brzezenski, Arnaud Lavallée,

Sébastien Jacquet, Mickael Fages.

- Mr. Garcia, do you recognize yourself in this image?

- Yes.

- Do you confirm being with Mickael Fages,

Sébastien Jacquet, Arnaud Lavallée and Michel Brzezenski?

- We can't really recognize them.

- I recognize Clément Garcia and Arnaud Lavallée.

For the others, I'm less sure.

- Were you together on the evening of December 8th?

- Yes. A big moment for the BRI.

- You move around

in a small group. Isn't that risky in this conflict context?

- We split up to use the bathroom at a café.

And it took time to regroup.

- Which café? - I don't remember.

- Where did you regroup?

- On the Champs Élysées.

- At what location?

- More towards the top.

- Do you remember which streets you took?

- Small streets, I don't know which ones.

- In the videos,

we see you on Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie,

Rue Georges Bizet, Avenue Marceau and Rue Vernet.

What do you say to that?

- I didn't pay attention to the street names.

- But that's your group in these videos?

- Yes.

It looks like it, yes.

- Mr. Brzezenski, do you confirm

that you had an LBD40? - Yes.

- Besides you, who had an LBD?

- Lavallée and Fages.

- Did you use them going towards the Champs Élysées?

- It's possible.

- We had to fire to keep hostile individuals at a distance.

Some individuals were very violent.

- Did your shots cause injuries?

- Sure, some must have gotten bruised.

- Injuries requiring paramedics.

- Not that I remember.

- I don't think so, no.

- Around 6:30 PM, a 20-year-old man

was hit in the head by an LBD on Rue Magellan.

What do you say to that?

- That means nothing to me.

- I don't know, it doesn't ring a bell.

- Did 2 protesters incite

your colleague to fire an LBD?

- No.

- Were you in that area?

- I don't remember such an incident.

- It was a hectic day.

- You didn't see any injured protesters?

- No.

- No.

- No, no.

- I don't remember any injured protesters.

- They say there were conflictual situations,

and shootings, but can't locate or describe them.

None remember a protester shot by an LBD.

- There's a chance one of them shot Mr. Girard.

- Yes, but we don't know the circumstances.

- Have you heard from Guillaume Girard?

- In writing. He's just starting to regain his speech.

Same version as Rémi Cordier:

everything happened very fast and he wasn't hostile.

- What do you think of that?

- I have no personal feelings.

The BRI colleagues aren't very cooperative,

but nothing proves they acted outside the legal framework.

Impossible to know the truth.

- How many days are we staying in Saint-Dizier?

- The whole week.

- There's nothing to do there, it's boring.

- There are the air shows.

- Great.

- Grandma will pamper you.

I bet she made her gratin.

What's Yaourt doing?

- I think he's fed up with being locked up.

- Put the yellow vest on up front?

It must be in the glove box.

- DEFIANT CITIZENS! ANGRY YELLOW VESTS!

ANGRY YELLOW VESTS! ANGRY CITIZENS!

- With us!

- Victor, are you helping?

- Leave him, he's playing with the cat.

You should make videos, there are tons on the internet.

I'm sure Yaourt would be a hit.

- Dad, don't you want to buy a dishwasher?

- I like doing the dishes.

[Laughter]

- They're so cute!

- Oh!

Did you see how he jumps?

That one's funny.

Oh...

- Your mother spends

more time watching videos than talking to me.

- That's better than the horrors on TV.

If everyone did like me, the world would be better.

At least it's not violent.

- These videos get billions of views,

and the world is still just as violent.

On the contrary,

it prevents people from thinking.

- Not at all, it makes you think about other things.

- When we have no more brains or democracy,

you'll wonder if you didn't watch too much

of those cute cats.

- Anyway, you have no heart.

He killed a mole with his spade. Like this.

- Really? - With his spade, like this.

- They're destroying my lawn.

- Your lawn. You're violent.

You're violent, Gérard, that's all.

She laughs.

[Squadron of fighter jets passes overhead]

What's left besides kibble and litter?

- 'Hépar'.

- Water for grandma, I'll take care of it.

Go get the kibble and cat litter.

It's in the back on the left. - OK.

- Excuse me.

Excuse me!

We know you.

What are you doing here?

Are you following us?

- No. Not at all.

- What are you doing here then?

- I'm doing my shopping.

- Here? In Saint-Dizier?

- Yes.

- We clearly saw you watching us.

- Why would I watch you?

- I don't know. To spy on us.

- I have no reason to spy on you.

- Maybe it's not you

the morality investigation into Guillaume?

All the nasty stuff on social media,

saying he deserved it. - He's being treated like a criminal.

- I have nothing to do with that,

I came to see my parents.

- What are you talking about? - The truth.

I was born here, in Saint-Dizier.

- You're making something up.

- No. I grew up here. I'm with my son,

we're shopping.

- Show me your papers. - What?

- Your ID.

I don't have my glasses, you check.

- Born in Saint-Dizier.

- Who are your parents?

- Sylvie and Gérard Bertrand.

- Sylvie Bertrand?

- Yes.

- At Marnaval? - Yes.

- You know her?

- Two years ago, she broke her wrist.

I came to help her with care.

- See? I'm not lying.

- Where's the investigation at?

Nobody tells us anything.

- It's ongoing.

It's a preliminary investigation, it takes time.

I'm not supposed to communicate with you.

- Why? Rémi was convicted in 10 minutes.

- He did 3 months in prison.

He lost his job.

With a criminal record, he won't find anything.

- You don't care, right?

What does it matter to you?

- It takes time, but we do care.

You need to be patient.

- It's been months! Tell us if it's progressing.

- I'm sorry, I can't tell you anything.

- Of course.

Come on, Sonia, let's go.

- It disgusts me.

If I were you, I'd be ashamed.

- Don't bother. Come on.

- Who are they?

Are they 'Gilets jaunes'?

- No. You can see they didn't have yellow vests.

- They could be 'Gilets jaunes' in plain clothes.

- I asked you if you knew her.

- I know.

- So you knew her. - Well, yeah.

I couldn't remember her name.

Maybe she never told me.

I only knew her first name.

Gisèle, right? - No, Joëlle.

- See, I don't even remember.

Her son got badly beaten during the protests.

- Mom, are you doing this on purpose or what?

Don't you see the connection with my job?

- You're investigating it? - Who else would it be?

- Why are you upset?

- It's crazy you don't pay more attention to what I say.

- I do pay attention.

I hope they don't cover it up.

- Don't you start too.

Do you realize, you're talking about my work!

I'm not here to cover things up!

No! It's the opposite.

We have the hearings,

the requisitions, reports to write.

We have dozens of investigations like that.

- I didn't say anything.

- You say everything that comes to your mind,

you don't even think.

Do you have any idea what police work is like

for maintaining order? No.

Do you know how many cops were hurt at the protests?

- You don't maim people who did nothing.

- Were you there? Did you see anything? No!

So you know nothing, shut up.

- I'll shut up.

I have the right to feel sad for this young man.

- I'd like to go to the National Directorate.

They have nice integrity cases,

not our thankless work.

- Under Decroly's orders?

- You won't last. - I'm at the IGPN

to catch the corrupt cops, not my colleagues.

At every protest, there are complaints.

- Right now, we're doing more than that.

- I agreed with the 'Gilets jaunes'.

Fundamentally, they're right.

- Then they went off the rails, really off the rails.

The colleagues are pissed off.

They're on the front lines to restore order,

and at the slightest slip-up, they're blamed.

- They're infantilized, spoken to like kids.

And besides, nobody talks to their kids like that anymore.

So on missions, they let loose.

- A commissioner said his guys were letting loose

like in a video game.

- Did you see the footage of the BAC shooting

saying 'A voté, a voté'. With each shot: 'A voté.'

- Victor,

turn it off!

- He got hit with a Flash-Ball.

- In the head? - In the head.

- Guys, it's a Flash-Ball shot. We're taking him.

- Careful, lift. Lift.

- Victor!

- Please, sir, let us work.

- Victor, turn it off.

- Yes, I'm finishing my chapter.

- Then turn it off. - Mmh.

- Come on, good night.

- Mom.

- Yes?

- Why does everyone hate the police?

- What?

No, that's not true...

Not everyone hates it.

What are you talking about? - Yes, they do.

You and your dad don't realize it,

you only know police officers.

But nobody likes the police.

- That's nonsense.

During the attacks, people applauded us.

- That was a long time ago.

- No.

- Yes, it was.

- Do your friends tell you they don't like the police?

- Not just my friends. There are tags.

- What tags? - 'ACAB'.

All cops are bastards.

- I know what that means.

People who write that are idiots.

[Sighs]

Okay... fine. I...

You're right. There are quite a few people

who say they don't like the police.

But it's not a majority, and they're glad it exists.

- That's not the problem.

- What is it then?

- I already told you. Nobody likes the police.

- And...

The problem isn't about liking the police.

It's not a very likeable job.

If you enforce the law, you don't make only friends.

The question is whether people trust

the police and their work.

Okay. Finish your chapter, then turn it off?

- Is it this one?

- Yeah.

Hello. - Hello.

- Police. We'd like to speak to management.

- Of course, ma'am. One moment, please.

- Your colleagues came by.

They had our camera recordings

and spoke to several guests.

- We have the reports.

- Mr. Santoni? - Yes.

- These are police officers.

They're interested in the events of December 8th.

This is our security director.

- It concerns a window overloking Rue Quentin Bauchart.

- That one there.

- It's on the 3rd floor.

That must be room 316.

- Yes, that's room 316. - A junior suite.

- There was a witness at that window.

Who was staying in the suite that day?

- We can check.

[Knocks on door]

Ms. Gaziorek? - Yes.

- Can we check if room 316 was occupied

on the evening of December 8th? - Of course.

Yes, it was occupied by a couple from Monaco.

They left the next day.

- Were they in the room around 6:30 PM?

- Yes. - When a guest enters,

it's recorded.

- We have several entries,

guests in early morning.

The last one is at 10:30 AM.

They left and returned at 9:32 PM.

And for staff, we have an entry at 1:44 PM.

That must be the housekeeper. Then 3:07 PM, and...

and the last one at 6:19 PM.

- Turndown service. - What's that?

- Housekeepers who prepare the room for the night.

They turn down the covers, leave slippers...

- Do you know who it was?

- Yes. Each badge has its own personal code.

Ms. Gaziorek?

- Of course.

Alicia. Mady.

- Is she working today?

- Yes. Yes, yes.

Second shift. Noon to 7 PM.

- We'd like to speak to her and see room 316. Is that possible?

- If the suite is available, yes.

Service?

Please.

- Thank you.

- Madame Mady won't be long.

- Wow!

[Sighs]

- If you don't mind me asking,

how much is a suite?

- It varies depending on the season,

a junior suite is 2,000 euros. - 2,000 euros?

Heads up. Service.

Sorry.

2,000 bucks, damn.

Hello. I'm Mr. Santoni, the security manager.

Not sure if we've met. They're from the police,

they're conducting an investigation. Hello, ma'am.

Should I let you ask the questions?

Yes. If you don't mind,

it's actually better if you leave us.

If you need anything, don't hesitate. Thank you.

Go ahead.

We're investigators with the 'IGPN'.

Do you know what that is? No, not really.

We investigate police misconduct.

We're not investigating you. We have nothing against you.

An incident occurred on this street,

on December 8th during the protest.

Around 6:30 PM.

They say you were in this suite

for coverage service.

You confirm?

If they say so, it must be true.

Following this incident,

there was a serious injury

and a complaint was filed.

We're trying to find out what happened.

I understand completely.

Did you see anything? No.

No? When you were at the window,

what did you see in the street?

Who said I was at the window?

We have a video where we see you there.

Just tell us what you saw.

I saw the firefighters.

But before?

You were watching before the firefighters. No.

It's very important that you talk to us.

We want to reconstruct what actually happened.

Your testimony can help us.

I saw the firefighters tending to an injured person.

Did you see how he was injured?

I went to the window when I heard the siren.

You're being evasive.

We're not trying to trap you.

I don't know what to say.

I'm not going to make up something I didn't see.

Okay.

I'm going to give you my card,

if you remember anything.

I'm putting my personal number.

You can reach me anytime.

We'll let you get back to work.

We handled that badly.

I don't think so.

There's something she's not telling us. Really?

Summon her, it always works.

I don't know.

She might close herself off even more.

[Police siren]

- Look.

What is it?

Soap.

Did you steal it?

It's just soap, I wouldn't call that stealing.

Wow, it smells good. Do you want it? No thanks.

You sure? I have two. Ha!

- Bye, have a good evening.

- Good evening, girls. - Good evening.

Bye. See you tomorrow. Get home safe.

Conversations

Door closing beep

Distant conversations

Train car hubbub

Cell phone ringing

- Yes, Victor.

I'm home, where are you? Are you coming back soon?

I'm still at work, I'll be back a bit later.

What? I can't hear you.

I'll be back later. Hello?

Wait, don't hang up.

Victor, are you there?

Yes? What's going on?

Nothing. I'll be back later.

I made dinner and it's getting cold.

Oh, damn. What did you make? Quiche.

and nuggets. You didn't have to make both.

It's okay. It's really good.

I'm waiting for you. No. Start without me.

So should I eat the quiche or the nuggets?

Do whatever you want.

I gotta go. Kisses, see you soon.

[Phone drops]

Damn.

Passengers stirring

Madame Mady.

Madame Mady.

Can we talk?

We can go to a café.

- I don't have time.

- I need your help.

- I told you I saw nothing.

- I know, but I don't believe you.

- I'm not a liar. - I don't think that,

but you're not telling me everything.

- Excuse me, I'd like to go home.

RER train braking

Door closing beep

- Sorry.

Excuse me.

- Are you going to follow me to my place?

- If I have to.

- Do you have the right to do that? - No, not really.

But it's important.

You need to tell me what you saw.

I understand you're afraid.

With the police, you're afraid they won't believe you.

- I don't want trouble with the police.

- So you did see something.

- You won't have any trouble. - How do you know that?

There won't be retaliation against you.

You managed to find me just fine.

- Police who cross the line shouldn't do it again.

That kind of cop needs to be punished.

- That never happens. - Why do you say that?

- Because it's the truth.

I see it clearly here.

The 'BAC' stops young people.

They provoke them, wind them up,

they take them in, they beat them.

They write fake citations,

all the time. They're never punished.

I filmed everything.

- You filmed it?

- Yeah.

There was noise in the street.

I saw guys around a burning scooter.

I filmed it with my phone.

Just out of curiosity.

And then the police showed up.

- Do you have that video? - Yes.

I wanted to post it online, but I said no.

Black people or Arabs, no one cares.

Now it happens to white people,

and I'm supposed to do something?

Would you have come if it hadn't happened to a white person?

- Yes. The 'IGPN' also investigates police in the suburbs.

- Really? And how many were convicted?

- The 'IGPN' doesn't decide, but there have been convicted officers.

- Convicted? At worst they got suspended sentences.

No one dares go against the police.

How many were fired?

How many?

- Fired, none.

- None?

You see. None.

- Trust me, give me that video?

- I don't have it. It's at my place.

- I can go with you.

- You don't trust me?

- Okay.

You still have my card?

- Yes.

You know this won't change anything.

Door opening

Closing

- Hey, you. No, no, no.

That's not for you.

Come on.

Voicemail

*Laughter

*-The Schmitts, what's going on?

Aren't you tired? You need to go home.

What are you going to do?

Come on, come on, get over here. You're busted.

They're coming! They're coming!

Get out of here!

Get out!

*-Run! Run!

*Gunshot

- Hi. - Hi.

- Hi. - Hi.

- Benoit, I have something to show you.

- I'm coming.

*Laughter

*-The Schmitts! What's going on?

Aren't you tired? You need to go home.

What are you going to do?

Come on, come on, get over here. You're busted. Come on!

They're coming! They're coming!

Get out of here!

Get out!

Run! Run!

[Gunshot]

[Flash-Ball reloading]

*Police siren

*-Go!

*Car alarm

*-Guillaume.

Guillaume!

OK.

Can you play it from the beginning?

Come on, guys.

Where are Girard and Cordier?

They're coming. Look.

What's happening?

They're not with the others? No. They're coming down the street.

Come on, come on. Get over here. You're exposed.

They're coming! They're coming!

Get out of here!

Get out!

Now they're facing the 'BRI'.

Rémi is on the left, Guillaume on the right.

He has his phone in his hand.

Run! Run!

[Gunshot]

Two of them are shooting. Yes.

Look at the 'LBDs'. Run! Run!

They fire at the same time.

Two shots, but only one hit. That's right.

They're shooting at a guy who's running.

That's not self-defense.

They got hit with a can.

No one's threatening them.

Guillaume turns around while running.

Really? You're sure?

Yes.

Let me see.

Run! Run!

OK, he turns around

to see what they're doing. He turns around.

Does that justify shooting? He's running, he's not threatening.

I didn't say that. But they can use it.

It's a retaliatory shot. Some idiot throws a can,

and they shoot the first guy they see.

There's also the kick.

But honestly,

what's this guy doing?

I agree, he's messing around.

And they just leave...

calmly.

That's bad.

Can you tell who did what?

Yes.

The kick is Fages.

Lavallée is next to him. Below, Jacquet and Garcia.

Brzezenski is further down the street.

The shots are Fages and Lavallée?

Yes.

Guillaume.

Guillaume.

Is the video on social media?

No. The witness didn't post it online.

We'll be able to work more calmly.

Have you called them back in?

I was waiting to check with you first.

Three of the five aren't in mainland France.

Where are they? They were sent to Mayotte.

Brzezenski, Jacquet, and Garcia.

We won't wait for their return.

Question Lavallée and Fages, the main suspects.

Should I put them in custody?

That's not what I had in mind.

They lied. If we lose the element of surprise, they'll coordinate.

What's gotten into you?

Usually the prosecutor asks for custody

and investigators push back.

They don't know the video exists,

I can confront them with their contradictions.

If you question them simultaneously,

they won't be able to coordinate. Coordinate with your investigators.

Understood.

Goodbye, Ms. Bertrand. Goodbye.

[Knocking on door]

Lavallée is downstairs at reception.

And Fages?

He won't come.

What?

Medical certificate. He's on sick leave.

Is he mocking us? What do we do?

Do you want me to call them both back in

when Fages is available? Damn it.

Go get him.

OK.

During your first hearing,

you stated you didn't remember

a protester injured by an 'LBD' shot.

Do you stand by that statement? Yes.

- You didn't fire a shot that would have wounded

a protester around 6:30 PM?

- No.

- Nor any of your colleagues?

- Not that I know of.

- I'm going to show you a video.

- Hey Schmitts, what's going on?

Aren't we tired? We need to go!

Come on, come on. You're burned out.

They're coming!

They're coming! Get out of here!

- Run!

Run!

*Gunshot

- Do these images remind you of this incident?

- Not in every detail.

- Can you describe what we see?

- Rioters are hurling insults and throwing a projectile.

They run away when they see us.

Our unit arrives.

We find ourselves facing two hostile individuals.

Fages and I fire to protect our colleagues.

- Do you think these individuals were behaving hostilely?

- All the protesters were hostile.

They'll tell you the opposite. If we listen to them,

we wonder who committed the violence,

who looted shops, destroyed the streets.

- I'm talking about these two individuals,

the ones you're facing.

How did their behavior justify firing?

A shot must be necessary

and proportionate.

- They're running away.

So they have something to hide.

And one of them throws a projectile at us.

- Where do you see him winding up his arm?

- In his turning around.

It's not obvious in the video, but I didn't have the same view.

For me, his gesture was unambiguous.

It was threatening.

I didn't want to take the risk

of taking a bolt in the face.

In a situation of self-defense,

you have to react quickly.

- Certainly.

You're not facing terrorists,

but facing two unarmed protesters.

- That's what you say. - The images show it.

- Many protesters

turned into wild beasts.

And a bolt can kill.

- It's an exaggeration to describe Mr. Girard's behavior

as that of a wild beast. He's leaving

with his back to you.

What did you do once Mr. Girard was on the ground?

- I don't remember. We...

probably continued advancing.

- Mr. Girard was hit in the head.

He was seriously injured.

- That's not the impression I had. I didn't aim for the head.

- Was it Mr. Fages' shot that hit Mr. Girard?

- I know I didn't aim for the head

and neither did my colleague.

- So you're saying that after the shot,

you continued advancing.

- Yes.

- I'm going to show you the rest of the video.

*Police siren

What do you see?

- It's not very clear.

It looks like my colleague is pushing him away with his foot.

- That's a kick.

- I don't know. Maybe.

I don't remember that gesture.

- And now, seeing Mr. Fages' gesture in the video,

does it seem justified to you?

Is Mr. Girard a threat?

- I don't know.

Maybe my colleague thought the person

was going to grab an object on the ground

and he didn't want to take the risk.

You'll have to ask him.

I can't speak for him.

- So?

- He's reviewing the report.

He says he didn't aim for the head and didn't see

that Guillaume was injured.

- And the kick? - He didn't see anything.

- When he leaves, he's going to call Fages to inform him.

- That's right.

He needs to be taken into custody and Fages arrested.

I'm calling the prosecutor's office.

Dial tone

- Commander Bertrand from the IGPN for Mr. Langlois.

Ah.

He needs to call me back urgently.

I have a police officer I want to take into custody,

I need his approval.

Understood, I'll try his cell phone. Thanks.

What's the point of having your own line?

He has a family emergency.

Damn, voicemail.

*-Leave a message.

*Voicemail beep

Sir, Commander Bertrand from the IGPN.

Please call me back about Lavallée and Fages

in case file 137.

- Check with the on-duty magistrate.

- While I inform him...

- Can I go? - No.

- Why? - You're under arrest.

- What?

- You're under arrest for assault by a state agent.

You have the right to have a lawyer present.

You also have the right to a medical examination.

- Are you serious?

- Do I look like I'm joking?

- We, Stéphanie Bertrand, Police Commander,

conducting the preliminary investigation, under articles 75

of the criminal procedure code,

assisted by Major Benoit Guérini and Sergeant

Chief Carole Delarue, with the requisition

to compel appearance under article 78

paragraph 2 of the criminal procedure code.

We transport to 5 Pasteur Street,

94450 Limeil-Brévannes, at 1:15 PM,

we observe it is a house,

we ring the doorbell which is opened for us

by an individual matching Mr. Fages Mickael.

Wearing our armbands,

having confirmed the identity of Mr. Fages,

we proceed with his arrest, it is 1:30 PM.

We inform Mr. Fages that custody,

as well as the related rights, is notified to him

by separate report immediately. So noted.

*Keypad beep

- Wait for me in my office.

Stéphanie! Stéphanie!

What's this arrest without the prosecutor's approval?

- I had to act quickly.

Langlois was unreachable.

He called me back and gave me the green light

for the arrest. - Is everything in order?

- Absolutely. - Good.

*-Run! Run!

*Gunshot

- Mr. Fages, it's you and Mr. Lavallée

that we see shooting at Mr. Girard?

- Yes.

- Did your shot hit Mr. Girard?

- I don't know.

- On the video, you clearly see he was hit.

- Yes.

- He was wounded in the head.

- I didn't aim for the head. It's not authorized.

- What is the distance between you and Mr. Girard?

- I'd say 20 meters.

- It's 14 meters.

At that distance, the LBD 40's margin of error is 4 cm.

One of you aimed for the head.

- Our rubber bullet launchers might have been misaligned.

That would explain everything.

- You fired many shots,

you would have noticed before.

- Maybe a defect in the ammunition.

I didn't aim for the head.

- Nothing says it was my client's shot that hit him.

- What did you do when the protester fell to the ground?

- I don't remember.

- Try to remember.

He sighs.

Fine. I'll show you the rest of the video.

*Police siren

Can you describe what you see?

I'm listening.

- I...

I make a movement to free myself.

The individual tries to grab my leg to make me fall.

- Mr. Girard tries to grab your leg?

- On the footage, you can't see clearly.

- On the contrary, I think we can see very clearly.

- That's easy to say.

I felt he was going to grab my leg.

- Mr. Girard is lying on the ground.

He makes no movement.

You kick him,

while he's on the ground and clearly wounded.

- In my opinion, he's not wounded.

Simply off-balance because he was hit in the torso by our shots.

- He's holding his head and can't get up.

It is necessary to verify if the person hit

by a projectile has no injuries.

- In my opinion, he's not wounded.

He didn't cry out, I didn't see any blood.

If he was wounded, I would have helped him.

- Kiai!

Applause

- Has he already gone?

- Not yet.

- Empi!

- You put the BRI guys in custody? Is that true?

- We're doing this now?

- Is it true or not?

- It's the prosecutor's decision.

- Is this your investigation or not? - Yes.

- The BRI? Did you see what they did at the Bataclan?

- Yes. - They're heroes.

They risk their lives while you investigate

behind your desks. It's shameful.

- Give it a rest. I hear this all day long.

- You should question yourself. - Do they?

The BRI acts like cowboys.

- Cowboys?

They didn't invent the Wild West.

You've all gone crazy.

You trust thugs more than the BRI.

- Do you know the case?

- The main witness was convicted of violence?

- Stop parroting,

even if you're in bed with the unions.

- Don't bring Noélie into this.

- KIAI!

Applause

- Naël! Gaspard!

- Victor's afraid to say we're cops.

- Kanku Dai!

- One of his friend's father asked where I taught.

I didn't get it at first.

"You teach PE. I teach French."

I didn't even correct him.

- Kiai!

- He's ashamed to say I'm a cop.

What world are we living in?

You're fueling hatred of the police.

- I'm just doing my job, like I always have.

- You weren't like this at narcotics.

- If you'd applied to the IGPN, I'd still be at narcotics.

You were happy one of us was taking care of Victor.

I liked narcotics.

Yes, investigating colleagues isn't fun.

If they screw up, they own it.

- Can't you put yourself in their shoes?

- That's all I do.

By making excuses and caving to unions,

good cops will all leave,

only the assholes will remain.

Applause

- Nilay and Victor!

- Heian Nidan!

- KIAI!

For months now

the government's been asking police to risk their lives

against thugs destroying the Republic.

Our colleagues face situations

bordering on chaos and insurrection.

And today we learn our BRI colleagues,

the BRI, whose courage needs no proof,

are being held in custody like criminals.

This decision won't help

ease the unrest already plagueing our ranks.

I'm telling you, police are disgusted.

The government needs to understand

we're close to a breaking point.

And when we're gone,

there'll be no one left to protect the Republic.

Lively conversations

Tense music

- What's happening here?

- The custody hold was just lifted.

- Can someone explain this?

- The top brass showed up.

They're waiting for you in the conference room.

Applause

- I called the prosecutor to lift the custody hold,

and they agreed.

Let's avoid union complaints

when we're asking so much from staff.

- Fages and Lavallée lied to us several times.

Fages tried to avoid questioning deliberately.

Under Article 78, it was justified to compel them

to appear by police force.

- I know the criminal procedure code.

I understand you want to extend custody.

But you can recall them.

- That changes the power dynamic, and you know it.

A video shows there's no self-defense

or even retaliation.

- If the video is clear enough,

no need to hold them in custody.

- But which one caused Girard's injury?

We had to keep the pressure on.

- Custody is being released.

Move the investigation forward differently.

Did you call in a ballistics expert?

- A reconstruction is scheduled for next week.

- Very good.

You can move forward.

I'm going to be very clear.

We can't turn the entire profession against us.

It's also the view of the DGPN and the ministry.

Suspense music

- The ballistics expert

concludes in agreement with the doctor

that given the similar size of the two officers,

given the similar shooting angles,

and given Mr. Girard's turning movement,

it is impossible to determine which of the two shots

hit Mr. Girard in the head, injuring him

and resulting in over 60 days of incapacity.

Fighter jet passing

Doorbell

[Door opening]

- Ms. Girard.

- Hello.

- I wanted to talk to you. Even though I'm not supposed to.

Can I come in?

The preliminary investigation is closed.

Your lawyer will inform you,

but I wanted to tell you first.

- Why?

- To be able to give you explanations.

The investigation identified the officers who fired.

They fired without respecting the principle of necessity

and proportionality. So they are at fault.

But it was impossible to determine

which of the two shots wounded your son in the head.

- It has to be one of them.

They're going to charge both.

- No.

- I don't understand.

- There were two simultaneous shots,

but only one hit Guillaume.

The ballistics tests couldn't determine

which one hit his head.

- Hmm...

They both fired. They're both responsible.

- Legally, it's more complicated than that.

- No one is punished because we don't know which one hit him.

- I understand this is hard to hear.

- But Guillaume will have lasting effects his whole life.

They ruined his life,

and no one will be punished?

- The officer who kicked will face charges for assault,

without causing lost work time.

- No lost work time?

- Yes.

- What about their superiors?

There must be someone responsible.

- There was no order considered illegitimate.

The prefecture asked law enforcement

to contain violent protesters.

- But Guillaume wasn't violent. - I know.

- And that changes nothing?

- No.

- I don't understand why you came.

- I wanted to tell you that I did my best...

to establish the truth.

- You did your job well,

but what's the point of your job?

What's it for?

Sad music

She knocks on the door.

- You wanted to see me? - Yes.

Close the door, please.

Thank you.

I have a problem.

- Yes?

- You should have told me that you know the Girard family.

- I don't know them.

- You have a family connection with them.

- No. We're from the same town, that's all.

I didn't know them before working on this case.

- Are you sure? Saint-Dizier is a small town.

- But it's not a village either.

- You had no connection with them?

- His mother cared for my mother as a caregiver.

But I didn't know that at the beginning of the investigation.

- That's what I call a connection.

- If you say so. But it didn't influence the investigation.

- Should I believe you?

- I focused on the evidence.

The mistakes made by these officers are serious.

- It doesn't matter. You have a connection with the Girards,

and that created a bias.

- A bias? - Yes.

There are principles of impartiality and equality before the law.

If we don't respect them, there's no more justice.

Ethically, that's a problem.

Even unconsciously, it affected your perception of the case.

It influenced your choices,

you had more empathy for the complainant.

Just coming from the same small town probably mattered.

It's human.

- You're right. It's human.

It probably changed my approach.

If I didn't come from the same small town,

if there hadn't been that connection, as you say,

I probably would have dropped the investigation earlier.

I probably wouldn't have found the incriminating video.

I would have settled for two conflicting accounts.

I probably would have believed the victim and his family less,

and probably accepted the police version more.

You're right, I was born in Saint-Dizier,

and Guillaume Girard's mother actually knew mine.

But I've been a police officer for 20 years,

my son's father is a cop, my colleagues are cops.

I investigate colleagues.

I know their lives, the lack of consideration

when it's not the contempt they face,

the difficulties that law enforcement poses,

the complexity and thanklessness of the job.

But isn't that a bias?

It's a matter of perspective.

If other perspectives are hostile, what do we do?

How do we hold together?

I don't know anymore.

I was born in Saint-Dizier, like the Girard family.

And I'm a cop, like the guys who shot at Girard's son.

I'm both.

And I hope I'm also other things.

A serious investigator...

a good friend...

a decent mother.

That's it.

- I understand, in a way, you're right.

Taking things too personally, and we make mistakes.

- When do we start taking things too personally?

- If there's a trial,

the defense could find out about this connection.

They could use it to discredit the investigation.

And beyond that, all the work of the IGPN would be compromised.

It wasn't a good idea. You should have told me.

- To hand the investigation over to someone else,

who wouldn't have taken it too personally.

- Don't take it like that, it serves no purpose.

I don't know if the victim will file a civil suit,

but if there's a follow-up, you won't handle the case.

We have to be absolutely exemplary on ethics.

I arranged to spare you an administrative investigation.

You have nothing to fear on that front.

- An administrative investigation? - Yes.

- Could I be disciplined?

- You won't be. I guarantee it.

- Are you serious?

She laughs.

- Why are you laughing?

- I'm watching videos.

*Grunt

She laughs.

*Groaning

Laughter.

- You okay, Mom?

- Yes, yes, everything's fine.

Festive music

- Hello.

My name is Guillaume Girard.

A year ago,

police officers shot at me with their LBD.

One of the shots hit me in the head

and fractured my skull.

I spent a long time in the hospital.

I couldn't speak for several weeks.

I had to relearn everything with speech therapy.

The doctors say that

my brain will remain damaged.

I can't concentrate anymore.

I can't think anymore.

I forget everything.

I get migraines.

Sometimes my nerves

give out.

I become aggressive.

I've become a burden...

to my mother.

I don't understand why the police shot at me.

They say I was going to throw something,

but that's not true. They're lying.

I didn't do anything.

I think about them all the time.

I try not to hate them.

I try to stay positive.

It's not easy.

*'Whistling on the Hill' by Joe Dassin

She told me to go whistle up there on the hill

To wait for her with a small bouquet of wild roses

I picked flowers and whistled as much as I could

I waited and waited She never came

Zai-zai-zai-zai

Joëlle! Zai-zai-zai-zai

Come on, mom!

Zai-zai-zai-zai Badadada-bam

Zai-zai-zai-zai Badadada-bam

Wooh-oh! Badada-bam-bam

Wooh-oh!

Wooh-oh!

Woo-oh

She told me to go whistle up there on the hill...

To wait for her with a small bouquet of wild roses

I picked flowers And whistled as much as I could

I waited and waited

She never came

Zai-zai-zai-zai

Zai-zai-zai-zai

Zai-zai-zai-zai

Zai-zai-zai-zai

Woo-oh

Woo-oh

Woo-oh

Subtitles by SME: Claire Escadafals for LYSI MEDIA