Around 300 police officers gathered at place du Châtelet in Paris on May 10, 2012, following a call from police unions.
Protesters demonstrated against their working conditions, expressing their general frustration and demanding that they be granted "presumption of legitimate defense." The presumption of legitimate defense is based on the idea that if a police officer is threatened, and fires as a result, his or her actions may be viewed as an act of self-defense rather than aggression.
Police officials hoped to send a message to newly elected president François Hollande.
"It is important that the future minister of the interior know that there is general dissatisfaction among the national police and we will ask that the new government hear us on this issue," said Nicolas Comte, general secretary for one of Paris' police unions.
Around 1 800 municipal policemen protested Thursday throughout France.