0 a police officer who is a member of a gendarmerie (= a police force that is part of the armed forces in France and some other countries where French is spoken):
It should be remembered that there was only one gendarme for every league of frontier.
When these precautions proved insufficient the government resorted to more forceful measures, involving the collective punishment of communities by mobile columns of regulars and gendarmes.
The gendarmes were judged and put in prison.
Under such circumstances, it is not surprising to find luckless gendarmes complaining to authorities, abandoning their posts, and even speaking of mutiny.
The term of service for the rank-and-file gendarme was two years, after which it could be renewed on a yearly basis.
In response, the government in most cases proposed a reduction in gendarmes' salaries to generate savings for additional hiring.
Prussia, for example, had a force of 2,700 in 1848, which means roughly one gendarme per 12,000 inhabitants.
The fact that the gendarmes are prepared to send a contingent to this country is a great compliment.
