Police Station History

1841-1844 

There were no suitable quarters available for the new force so the Midland District allowed them space in the Court House and Gaol which was located at the corner of King Street and Clarence Street. 

1844-1972 

When plans were drawn for the new Town Hall and Market they included space for the Police Force.  In a letter written on July 8, 1842 the Clerk of the Common Council, F. M. Hill, described the particulars of the proposed building to prospective architects and builders, stating: "3. The main building is to afford accommodation as follows: in the lower part, a Station House for the Police, an office and 4 cells ........".  

The Force moved into its new quarters in the basement of City Hall when it opened on the 21st of November 1844.   Accommodation consisted of one large day room and four cells.  These cells still exist in the basement of the building.  Access to the cells was from a doorway on the west side of the north wing. The Police Court was also held in the basement of this building. 

As the Force expanded, its requirement for space also increased.  By 1906 it was located on the main floor of the City Hall between the Market Building and the main building, with the police court across the corridor.  At this time the strength was 14 men. 

By 1951 the Force had grown to thirty-six men and two civilian employees.  Renovations began to the "island market" building (the wing extending westward from the main City Hall building) which provided office space on two floors.  The holding cells were on the main floor and the Magistrates Court and offices were on the second floor. The Force moved in on October 27, 1952.

The city continued to grow and with it the force expanded so that by 1969 the Force strength was ninety-two officers and eight civilians.  Again, larger and more modern quarters were needed.  During the same period the city administration and its various departments had outgrown the space allotted to them and it was decided that a separate police building be erected.  The Public Utilities Commission was on the move at the same time and a narrow strip of property previously occupied by the P.U.C. at the corner of Ontario Street and Queen Street was purchased and the new Police Headquarters was erected on the site.  This building was officially opened on January 14, 1972. 

In July 1999 the Kingston Police expanded by approximately 1/3 following amalgamation of the City of Kingston with the former townships of Kingston and Pittsburgh. By October 2001 the number of Kingston Police employees reached 210 and today is 240 RTG.

In the Kingston Police Business Plan 2001-2003 entitled "Safe & Sound?, the Kingston Police Services Board made provision for a Facility Needs Assessment and Master Plan. The Purpose of this study was to identify and adequately meet the facility needs for the Kingston Police and the Kingston Community in the short term and for the following 25-years. The Needs Assessment launched the Kingston Police Headquarters Project.

11 Queen Street at Ontario Street, Kingston Police Headquarters
 Demolished summer 2010