In early 1961, the Precinct One station was a blueprint which proposed the combination of the Baltimore County Police Bureau (built in 1920 on Washington Blvd) and the Catonsville Station (built in 1928 on Frederick Road). Touted as the largest and most modern police facility in the county, the $219,000 brick, L-shaped structure was to be built on a 5-acre tract of land located at the southwest corner of Wilkens and Walker Avenues. This site was purchased by the county for $45,000. The plans boasted the county's first basement-level indoor pistol range.
At the time of the dedication ceremony on Tuesday, July 17, 1962, Wilkens became the newest of Baltimore County's police stations, assuming the title from the Woodlawn station which had been built in 1955 on Windsor Mill Road.
The combined forces of the Catonsville and Halethorpe stations resulted in a personnel strength of 71 men, including 1 captain, 4 lieutenants, and 66 other personnel such as sergeants, corporals and patrolmen. In 1962, the Wilkens Station boundaries were Baltimore city to the east, the Patapsco River to the south and west (separating the precinct from Anne Arundel and Howard County, respectively), and the Woodlawn District to the north (Security Blvd and Johnnycake Road). The new station was within 10 minutes travel of the precinct's most distant point.
Today, the Wilkens Station is known as Precinct One. Precinct One covers an area of approximately 25 square miles, and is still bordered by Baltimore city to the east and the Patapsco River south and west. To the north, however, the Precinct Two/Woodlawn boundary line moved from Security Blvd and Johnnycake Road to Route 40 (Baltimore National Pike).
Currently, Precinct One manpower is 140 strong, divided into 3 shifts and administration. Each shift has a Halethorpe and Catonsville Squad, reflecting the blending of the original Halethorpe and Catonsville stations. Precinct One officers handle more than 64,000 calls per year, serving a population of over 77,800 citizens and more than 70 community organizations.
Precinct One/Wilkens has a proud tradition of serving its citizens. Ever diligent and dedicated to their sworn duties, the men and women of Precinct One are a proud and productive element of our department. Of the four fallen heroes in the history of the Baltimore County Police Department, four, Officer Mark Parry, Officer John Stem, Officer Charles Huckeba and Officer Robert Zimmerman, were assigned to Precinct One.
This precinct is committed to the values of this department: Integrity, Fairness, and Service. Precinct One has an honorable history, and looks to the future as an opportunity to continue this illustrious tradition.
Old Halethorpe Station
Old Catonsville Station
Revised March 6, 2006
Courthouse 