Cop Stories

About the Book

Television dramas, reality shows, and police procedural mystery novels may try to replicate the truth of a cop’s life, but sometimes the real story is stranger—and more entertaining. In more than thirty engaging anecdotes, Cop Stories gives a no-holds-barred inside look at the experiences of Dick Ellwood, police officer for the Baltimore Police Department from 1965 through his retirement in 1990. He vividly depicts the teeming street life of one of the most dangerous cities in the nation. From walking a beat in his boyhood neighborhood and his adrenaline-fueled work in vice to his ascent to detective and eventually supervisor in the homicide unit, Ellwood doesn’t miss a chance to get down and dirty with the gritty details you won’t find on primetime TV. In addition to investigating murders, arresting prostitutes, and fighting corruption, Ellwood had his lighter moments. He arrested his childhood hero, Mickey Mantle, for public drunkenness, and was propositioned in a gay night club. He also participated in history by working the race riots of 1968 and learned more than he wanted to know about arson. Spanning the turbulent times of the sixties through the decadence of the eighties, Cop Stories reveals what it truly means to protect, serve, and live the life of a tough, dedicated cop.

About the Author

Dick Ellwood is the fourth generation of his family to serve in the Baltimore Police Department. He joined the force after his honorable discharge from the U.S. Marines in 1964. Ellwood attended Essex College and obtained a degree in criminal justice. Now retired, he lives in Baltimore, Maryland.