FREE
I N
F O C U S
VOL.13, NO.9
F O R
P E O P L E
O V E R
More than 125,000 readers throughout Greater Baltimore
Cop now writes crime books
I N S I D E …
L E I S U R E & T R AV E L
A look at three world-class resorts beckoning from nearby states — Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania
True crime However, he quickly dropped his original plans and turned attention to writing what would eventually become his first published book — Cop Stories: The Few, The Proud, The Ugly — 38 short, true stories about his 25 years in law enforcement. The short stories range from investigating murders to arresting prostitutes, fighting corruption, responding to the civil rights riots of 1968, and even arresting his childhood baseball hero, Mickey Mantle, for public intoxication. The shift from police work to writing about it for publication doesn’t take as great an adjustment as you might think, according to Ellwood. “I have always enjoyed writing,” he said. “In the police department, you are always writing. I worked in the Homicide Unit for 11 of my 25 years. In that unit, you did a lot of writing when preparing your case for the prosecutor.” While the actual writing may be Ellwood’s talent, getting published was not an easy task initially. “Back when I started my first book, I did not know anything about the publishing process,” he recalled of his introduction to self-publication. “I was fortunate to know someone who had written a book, and got some good tips from him,” he said. “At first it was a challenge to work with the publisher,” he continued. “They handle many authors, and sometime do not have the time to guide you through the process.” However, Ellwood quickly learned how, and has since published three additional titles.
SEPTEMBER 2016
PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER MYERS
By Jennifer L. Waldera After serving four years as a Marine, 25 years as a Baltimore City police officer, and 18 years as manager of an insurance fraud unit, Dick Ellwood took to retirement armed not with golf clubs or travel plans, but with pen and paper. Originally intending to tell the story of the four generations of his family in the police department — his grandfather, father and son have also served on the force — Ellwood began to pen his first book shortly after retiring, when he found he finally had time to pursue his passion for writing.
5 0
page 23
Former police officer Dick Ellwood turned to writing in retirement, and has written about his personal experiences in law enforcement as well as crime novels and even a children’s book. The Timonium resident is proud to be among four generations of police officers in his family.
Novels look at police ethics His second and fourth books, Charm City’s Blue Justice and The Dark Side of Blue, are both crime thrillers. Each explores tough concepts of ethics and relationships within police departments. Charm City’s Blue Justice tells the fictional tale of a Baltimore police officer compelled to reduce the crime level in the community, but doing so outside the realm of his job — and of the law — while his partner and department race to stop his attempts at inflicting street justice. Ellwood’s most recent novel, The Dark Side of Blue, details the creation of a prison system intended to house law enforcement officers-turned-corrupt criminals, featuring a fight with the U.S. Justice Depart-
ment at the forefront. The media and the mafia are also major players in that novel, which features a complex series of crimes that involve a wide range of corruption across departments and organizations. Ellwood’s third book, inspired by the pleadings and persuasion of his eight grandchildren, is a departure from his other works. The Secret Zoo is a colorful children’s book that explores the after-hours adventures of curious children in a zoo. With four titles now under his belt, Ellwood has become more comfortable with the publishing process. “I am now well aware of what is needed to publish and See CRIME WRITER, page 29
ARTS & STYLE
Vagabond Players celebrate 100 years; plus, take your pick of dozens of continuing education classes this fall page 26 TECHNOLOGY k How to stop phone hackers
4
FITNESS & HEALTH 6 k Risks from taking multiple meds k Treating a pain in the neck LAW & MONEY 18 k Make retirement money last k Snag the best shopping deals ADVERTISER DIRECTORY
31
PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACON BITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE