On each occasion he assumed office during a period of instability in the governance of the French state seen by his supporters as a man who could bring order.

[2] An efficient and clear-sighted administrator he introduced scientific analysis into policing with reforms in forensic science and the training of detectives.

Lépine recognised that if France was not to relapse into military government the relationship between the civil police and the public had to change to become one of mutual trust.

[2] Amongst his other innovations, he introduced the white stick for directing traffic and established the river-boat brigade and armed police bicycle units.

A series of virulent anti-Semitic articles against Dreyfus that appeared in the Catholic newspaper La Croix had inflamed an already febrile atmosphere.

He successfully limited the role of the army as a force of internal order by handling most situations using solely the Parisienne police and the gendarmerie.

[10] The final decade of Lépine's tenure as préfet de police proved not to be as politically dramatic as his early years.

It now contains evidence, photographs, letters, memorabilia, and drawings that reflect major events in the history of France (including conspiracies and arrests), famous criminal cases and characters, prisons, and daily life in the capital such as traffic and hygiene.

In late January 1910, following months of high rainfall, the River Seine in Paris flooded the French capital, reaching a maximum height of 8.62 metres.

The instructions explained the importance of chemical cleansing and institutionalized the growing medical consensus about the causes of water borne diseases that had been controversial just a few years earlier.

[13][14] Armand Fallières, president of the French Republic and Lépine worked closely with each other at the outset of the flood as they were concerned that Paris could dissolve into major disorder if the government response was seen to be ineffectual.

Throughout the crisis Lépine was a visible presence attempting to lead from the front by reassuring Parisians that order would be maintained alongside the humanitarian efforts that were taking place.

In 1910 Lépine had instigated La Brigade Criminelle a dedicated unit of specialist law enforcers whose purpose was to gather intelligence and take direct action against high-profile criminals.

Lépine then ordered the building to be blown up with dynamite and reputedly administered the final debilitating shot to the head of Jules Bonnot.

[16] The Exposition Universelle provided the catalyst for innovation and Lépine decided to create a competition for inventors that continues to be held annually to this day.

It was originally intended to encourage small toy and hardware manufacturers, but over the years it has grown into an annual event that includes a multitude of innovative ideas.