From the booklet Wiltshire Statistics 1985, published by Wiltshire County Council, 1985:
The Wiltshire Constabulary was the first County Police Force to be established in the United Kingdom when, on 28th November 1839, Captain Samuel Meredith was appointed the first Chief Constable. This is reflected in the Constabulary motto ‘Primus et Optimus’ (the first and the best).
The Force is responsible for policing the administrative County of Wiltshire, a total area of 348,065 hectares with a population in 1983/1984 of 532,100.