Catonsville’s oldest police station is finally getting its retirement papers. Crews have broken ground on a new $32 million Wilkens precinct, a two-story complex planned next to the UMBC campus that county leaders say will update aging infrastructure and help meet rising demand for police services in Baltimore County’s western patrol area.
The new building is expected to total about 34,000 square feet and include public meeting space, according to county officials. Once the modern station opens, the existing Wilkens precinct will be demolished and the site converted, with officials eyeing more parking for the upgraded facility.
Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough said in prepared remarks that the new facility “will be equipped with tools and technology our officers need,” according to WMAR-2 News. County leaders are aiming to finish the project in December 2028, WMAR-2 News reported.
Design, Sustainability And Security Features
County plans shared with reporters call for a community room for public events, a memorial garden, rooftop solar panels, recycled building materials, a system to cut water use, and electric-vehicle charging stations, according to WBAL-TV. The design also includes upgraded parking and an automated gate to control access to the lot as part of a broader security package.
WBAL-TV reported that the county’s current estimate for the project comes in at just over $32 million.
Neighbors Demand Safety After Precinct Shooting
The celebratory shovel photos come less than a year after an attack outside the Wilkens parking lot that left an officer wounded and cranked up community pressure for a more secure station, WBAL-TV reported.
Procurement, Schedule And The Site
Baltimore County procurement documents list the project as the Wilkens Police Precinct New Building at 901 Walker Avenue and call for construction to meet LEED Silver standards, along with detailed construction specifications.
The solicitation documents outline a schedule that would allow construction to start in spring 2026 and reach substantial completion in early 2028, according to the county bid listing on HigherGov. Officials say the old precinct will be torn down and the site repurposed for additional parking once the new station is occupied.
What Residents Say
Residents and members of the Wilkens Police-Community Relations Organization say the new building is about more than fresh concrete and glass. They are hoping it will help morale inside the station, too.
“Morale for the police officers,” Catonsville resident Mike Winstead said, as quoted by WMAR-2 News. Neighbors told the station they plan to keep close tabs on the timetable and expect the county to deliver on the promised security upgrades.
For Baltimore County’s police precinct network, the work now underway on Walker Avenue marks a significant capital investment and a visible promise of change. Officials say the new Wilkens station is meant to function both as a long-needed workplace upgrade for officers and as a neighborhood hub for community engagement. The site will be visible from parts of the UMBC area as crews move from site prep into foundation work in the coming months.
