Vidocq

Eugene Francois
Vidocq was an 18th-century French crook-turned-cop, a confidant of at
least two famous French writers and an inspiration to many others
around the world.

Victor Hugo based two characters in "Les Miserables" on Vidocq - Jean
Valjean and Inspector Javert. Honore Balzac's character Vautran in
"Pere Goriot" also was modeled after Vidocq.

Vidocq's legendary crime-solving reputation was lauded in Edgar Allan
Poe's "Murders in the Rue Morgue" and in Herman Melville's "Moby Dick."
The fugitive in Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations" was inspired by
Vidocq's real-life exploits.

Vidocq offered his services as a police spy and informer while a
fugitive. He was so successful at catching criminals that he was named
the first chief of the Surete, an elite undercover unit, in 1811.
Vidocq eventually directed 28 detectives, all ex-criminals.

Vidocq is considered by historians and those in law enforcement to be the father of modern criminal investigation.

Among his accomplishments, Vidocq:

• Introduced record keeping (a card-index system) and the science of ballistics into police work.

• Was the first to make plaster casts of foot and shoe impressions.

• Was a master of disguise and surveillance.

• Held patents on indelible ink and unalterable bond paper.

• Founded the first modern detective agency and credit bureau, Le Bureau des Renseignements.

After he resigned from the Surete, Vidocq published "Memoires," a book
that became a best seller in Europe and firmly established him as the
world's greatest detective.

Crime solver society

The Vidocq Society is named for Eugene Francois Vidocq, the brilliant
18th century French detective known as the father of modern crime
solving.

Members apply their collective forensic skills and experience to so-called cold cases.

At monthly luncheons on the top floor of the Public Ledger Building in
Philadelphia, members evaluate, investigate and often solve the crimes
that are brought to them.






The
members are forensic professionals and motivated private citizens who,
as a public service, donate their talents to assist police.

A long-unsolved homicide or death is usually the centerpiece of each
society meeting. The case and its evidence are disclosed to members and
invited guests.

The society's 82 members - one for every year of Inspector Vidocq's life, come from 17 states and 11 other countries.

Choosing the cases

For The Vidocq Society to consider a case:

• The case must be presented by a law-enforcement official or investigator with standing in the matter.

• The case must be a homicide or a suspicious death.

• The incident must be at least two years old.

• The victim must not have been engaged in dangerous or illicit activity.

• The release of any information is at the discretion of law enforcement.

Inquiries can be made to The Vidocq Society Case Referrals, 1704 Locust St., Second Floor, Philadelphia PA 19103.

Society founders

Three experts in forensic science founded The Vidocq Society in Philadelphia in 1990:

Frank Bender, a world-renowned sculptor and forensic reconstructionist.

Richard Walter, an internationally known forensic psychologist and crime profiler.

Bill Fleisher, a former Philadelphia police officer
and FBI special agent who later became assistant special agent in
charge of the U.S. Customs Service in Philadelphia.