FRANCE POLICE Police. - The public peace is maintained by an armed police or gendarmerie, partly on foot and partly mounted ; and in all emergencies, when this force is found insufficient for the preservation or execution of the laws, the troops may be called in to assist, subject, however, to the orders of the police. About 7000 yardiens de la paix, formerly sergents de ville (policemen), under the orders of the prefect of police, form. in Paris an additional police force; and similar organizations exist in all the larger towns.