The excitement, the thrill, the big green base with a perfect road for endless possibilities. Pure plastic magic!. These were all the thoughts going through my head as a 9 year old when this set was released in 1993! Lego Town Police Station (set 6398)I know right, I feel old now. Back then I didn’t know I’d still be talking about Lego over 30 years later- but this set started it all.
The Set That Started It All
I can still remember the exact moment I peeled back the wrapping paper and saw that bright Lego logo staring back at me. It was the early 1990s, and my parents had bought me the Lego Town Police Station — the kind with those chunky white walls, blue window frames, and the classic smiling minifigure officers. At the time, I had no idea this set would be the start of a lifelong hobby (and eventually, The Brick Edit).
The version I had was similar to the Lego Police Station 6398 released in 1993 — a two-story build with sliding jail doors, a rooftop antenna, and a little garage for the police motorcycle. Every piece felt special: the transparent blue window panels, the printed “POLICE” sign (no stickers here!), and the minifig dog that looked more like a fox than a German Shepherd.
As a kid, I didn’t follow the instruction booklet perfectly — half the fun was adding my own “upgrades.” I remember building a secret escape tunnel under the jail, and somehow, the bad guys always managed to get away in my Lego world. It wasn’t the most complex set by today’s standards, but it had everything I loved: characters, vehicles, and a story to tell.
Nostalgia Bricks
Lego in the 1990s had a magic that’s hard to explain unless you grew up with it. The bricks were brighter, the sets were simpler, and the minifigures had that same uncomplicated smile no matter what mischief they were up to. There were no hyper-realistic faces, no movie tie-ins, no app integrations — just your imagination and a box of plastic possibilities.
I remember how the click of those pieces felt slightly different back then — tighter, somehow more satisfying. My police station baseplate had printed road markings so you could connect it straight to other Town sets, and my little police motorcycle had a siren that was simply a red stud balanced on the back. We didn’t need sound effects; we were the sound effects.
Even the “flaws” became part of the charm. The stickers — if there were any — were always just slightly crooked because my tiny hands couldn’t quite line them up. The minifigs’ accessories were chunky and indestructible. And if a piece went missing? You improvised with whatever you had left, often ending up with something more creative than the instructions ever intended.
Looking back now, those builds were a perfect mix of creativity and structure — enough guidance to get you started, but plenty of room for you to take the story in your own direction. And for me, every build session ended the same way: with the police station fully staffed, the bad guys locked up… and my Lego dog sleeping on the roof, because apparently roofs were fair game in my Lego world, or on a particular imaginative day stealing the helicopter.
Then vs Now: How Lego Police Stations Have Evolved
Fast-forward to today, and Lego Police Stations have become bigger, more detailed, and more realistic than anything I could have imagined in the 90s. Where my first set had around 500 pieces, modern versions can easily pass the 1,000-piece mark, with intricate interiors, realistic vehicles, and even working elevators or hidden compartments.
The design style has shifted too. Minifigures now have expressive faces, uniforms with detailed printing, and a whole range of accessories. The buildings themselves often include modular floors, making it easier to create custom layouts. And for builders who love storytelling, many sets now come with built-in scenarios — from criminal breakouts to police chases through the city, although no dog pilots quite yet!
But at their core, they still hold that same magic: the thrill of opening the box, sorting the pieces, and watching your own little Lego world come to life. Whether you prefer the clean simplicity of the 90s or the modern, ultra-detailed builds, there’s a set out there that will spark that same feeling you had as a kid.
Modern Police Station Sets Worth Building
- •Lego City Police Station (60316) – Packed with vehicles, minifigs, and a classic breakout storyline. https://amzn.to/4gc27P8
- •Lego Modular Police Station (10278) – A detailed, display-worthy build for adult fans. https://amzn.to/4eMulxz
- Lego Police Chase at the Bank (60317) – Combines police and crook vehicles for fast-paced play. https://amzn.to/4v8ffsh
If you’ve been looking for a way to reconnect with your Lego childhood — or introduce that joy to someone new — a Police Station set is the perfect place to start. Just be warned: one set often leads to another… and another… until you’ve built your own Lego city.
What was your very first Lego set? Share your memories in the comments — I’d love to hear your stories! And if you know someone who would get a kick out of this trip down Lego memory lane, send them this post or share it on your socials.