The Baltimore County Police Department was established by the Maryland State Legislature on April 11, 1874. The Maryland State Legislature approved what became Chapter 374 of the Laws of Maryland. This authorized the Baltimore County Commissioners, "to appoint such number of policemen as they may deem necessary, for the better protection of persons and property; the number not to exceed thirty at any one time, and to designate such number of said policemen as they may deem advisable, not exceeding five, as chief policemen." A second provision stated that, "the pay of each policeman shall be two dollars per day." On June 17, 1874, the County Commissioners divided the two-mile portion of the county, bordering Baltimore City boundary into five districts and appointed the first police force. Officers were appointed for one-year terms. In 1920 a new station was built in Fullerton. The station covered approximately one hundred square miles and included the communities of Parkville, Carney, Overlea, Fullerton, and Kingsville. Born on Harford Road between Taylor and Linwood avenues, Joseph F. Miller was appointed the first regular patrolman to the Parkville area on February 25, 1925. Patrolman Miller’s territory extended from the city line to the Harford County line and from Loch Raven Boulevard to Belair Road. He worked out of the Fullerton District and his home at 2812 Taylor Avenue was used as a police station. Patrolman Miller received calls for Parkville Volunteer Fire Company and the Parkville police department from his home. His personal car became the police car of Parkville. Patrolman Miller and his neighbor, Dr. Arthur M. Bacon, became responsible for handling all emergency cases such as murders, suicides, assaults, etc. A 1950 Census showed that there were 26, 922 people residing in the Fullerton District area, up from 17, 645 in the 1940 Census. In 1951 Fullerton Station consisted of 18 total personnel, divided into three eight-hour shifts of six men each. This differed from a total of 12 personnel divided into two twelve- hour shifts of six men each in 1940. Two police cars were assigned to the Fullerton Station. Car #23 covered the western part of the district and patrolled Harford Road from the Baltimore City line to the Harford County line and west to Oakleigh Road. Car #24 covered the eastern side of the district and patrolled Belair Road from the Baltimore City line to the Harford County line and also east and west of Belair Road. Due to the fact that six men are assigned to each shift and each man was entitled to a day off a week, Saturday was the only day on which a full shift operated. On the other six days, only five men were available for duty; however, it was necessary for one officer to be assigned desk duty. This left four men to patrol the entire district. In the event one man reported on sick leave, that left only three men available to cover the district. On Saturday October 23, 1954 at 11 a.m., the "new" Parkville Station was dedicated by the County Commissioners of Baltimore County. However, it was not until December that it was put into operation as a fully manned station. Twenty-one men were assigned to this location, broken down into three seven-man shifts. Fullerton Station had 24 officers assigned to patrol its district. The building in itself, was modern in every respect, and the department felt that it could be used for a model for similar stations that may be required in the future. Kahn Engineering Company built the station for $200,820. Also at this time, 40 additional persons were added to the Baltimore County Police Department for a total strength of 548. Chief of Police at this time was Hamilton Atkinson (1951-1956).  |  | Original Parkville Police Station 1954 | Dedication of the Parkville Police Station 1954 |
On May 30, 2003 Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith, Jr. outlined the realignment of the Baltimore County Police Department command structure. County Executive Smith stated that as part of the realignment he was re-establishing an independent command for Precinct 8/Parkville. Effective June 9, 2003, Captain Ronald B. Schwartz, a 33-year veteran of the department and Parkville resident, will assume command at Parkville. County Executive Smith said that he was making this change in response to tremendous growth in the White Marsh and Parkville areas and Parkville resident’s longstanding desire for their own precinct commander. Since the spring of 1992, Precinct 8 had been under the direction of the commander of Precinct 9/White Marsh. In May 2004, Parkville Precinct 8 and Fire Station 10 celebrated 50 years of service to the citizens of Parkville with a celebration at the station. In August 2004, officers moved out of the 50-year old precinct building and into five trailers. Demolition then began on the police side of the building in September 2004 paving the way for a new 9,200 square foot fire station. The new fire station is a pre-fabricated structure that was brought to the work site in sections, allowing for easier and faster construction. The new Parkville fire station at 2325 Putty Hill Avenue, was dedicated in November 2005. Demolition then began on the fire side of the old building, paving the way for construction of a new 17,000 square foot police facility. Officers moved into the new police precinct in March 2007 and a grand opening ceremony was held on August 8, 2007. There are currently 91 officers assigned to Parkville Precinct which is currently under the command of Captain Jonathan Trentzsch, a 24-year police veteran. The new precinct is a two-story building that contains state of the art video surveillance, a new prisoner intake and processing area, and a new workout area for officers. A special thank you to Retired Officer Robert Deale and Officer Mark Dorsey for their assistance with the information contained in this section. Revised October 30, 2007 |
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