What are the French police officers called?

Answer 1

In town the local police stations are manned by policemen from the Ministère de l'Intérieur (equivalent of the Home Office) They are called "un policier" for a man, "une policière/ une femme policier" for a policewoman. A common name is "un flic" (a copper). This is a familiar but widespread way of calling them, used even within their ranks.

By the countryside police duties are mainly taken on by policemen from the Ministry of Defence known as "les gendarmes". The name goes for both genders (un gendarme, une gendarme). The general public also use, although less frequently, the term "flic" for them.

"les policiers municipaux" are employed by the town councils. They have a lower level of executive powers.