Stephen Tabeling
Stephen Tabeling
Retired Baltimore police lieutenant
Stephen Tabeling is a former Baltimore police lieutenant who served for 25 years in various roles, including narcotics, homicide, and security. He was the first detective to win a murder conviction without a body, and he investigated some of the most notorious cases in the city’s history, such as the attempted assassination of former Mayor William Donald Schaefer, the sniper shooting of seven police officers, and the killing of a drug-dealing state delegate. He also worked as a chief of police in Salisbury, a director of public safety at Loyola University, and a consultant for Johns Hopkins and the Baltimore Police Department. He retired from policing in 2000, but he did not stop working. He became a private detective, a substitute teacher, and an author. He co-wrote several books about his experiences in law enforcement, such as Black October, The Badge and the Bullet, and The Thin Blue Line. He also co-produced a documentary series called The Wire: The Real Story, which won an Emmy award in 2008. At the time of these writings, he is currently 94 years old and lives in Towson, Maryland. He is married to Dolores Tabeling and has four children and nine grandchildren. He is passionate about education and mentoring young people, and he often tells his students, “Don’t be like me.” He is a respected and admired figure in the Baltimore community, and he is a living legend in the history of policing. He has dedicated his life to serving and protecting the people of Baltimore, and his impact on the city's police force is immeasurable.
Throughout his career, he has been known for his commitment to justice and his unwavering determination to make a difference. His contributions to law enforcement have left a lasting legacy, inspiring future generations of officers to follow in his footsteps.
LEO Legends Baltimore, PD
A Look Behind the Badge
Click HERE or on the book to buy the book
Dick Ellwood, a retired police officer, detective, and sergeant, has written several books since his retirement from the Baltimore City Police Department. As a police officer for over twenty-five years, he brings many stories of LEO (Law Enforcement Officers) legends to this book. Dick was a police officer who worked in several high-profile units in one of the most dangerous cities in the nation, Baltimore. In this book, he will share stories of some of the true legends that he knew during his career. The author details the reasons he has chosen these men that he served with as legends. The definition of a legend is a person who stands out above others; a person who, by his actions, leaves an indelible mark on those he worked with and the community he served.
The author realizes that by singling out law enforcement officers that he has firsthand knowledge of, he may be leaving out many that are legends in the eyes of others. He does not want to offend anyone who feels a certain law enforcement officer should be included in the book. Maybe by writing the book, he will have readers think about their legends when they served in law enforcement.
The author was born and raised in Baltimore City’s 10th ward. Ken's father was also raised in the 10th ward. Ken once had to make an arrest on a street called Albemarle St.; it was out of Ken’s district, but just outside the line. Somehow, the topic came up while Ken was talking to his father; he may have asked for directions. Ken’s dad was a cab driver and knew all the streets. Anyway, during the conversation, Ken’s father told him he grew up on Albemarle and added that it was part of the 10th ward. The neighborhood was made up mostly of people of Irish descent. Many of the legends he writes about in this book are from that neighborhood. Dick Ellwood served four years in the Marine Corps. He comes from a family that includes four generations of people who served with the Baltimore City Police Department. He retired from the police department with the rank of detective sergeant. While with the department, he earned a degree in criminal justice. He resides in Baltimore, Maryland, with his wife, a retired educator.
The names selected by Detective Sergeant Dick Ellwood Jr. were as follows:
1. Dick Ellwood, Sr.
2. Jim Cadden **
3. Steve Tabeling * **
4. Leon Tomlin
5. Donald “Skippy’ Shanahan
6. Bishop Robinson *
7. Joe Bolesta
8. Furrie Cousins
9. Jules Neveker **
10. Leander “Bunny” Nevin **
11. Donald Pomerleau *
12. Jimmy Cabezas
13. Darrell Duggins *
14. Mike Dunn *
15. Pete Bailey
16. Gene Cassidy *
17. Owen Sweeney **
18. Pete Barnes
19. Kenny Driscoll
20. Ed Boston
21. Bobby Berger
22. Ed Blaney
23. Ed Mattson **
24. Dick Frazier
25. John Ellwood
26. Ed Dunn
27. Steve Ellwood
28. Tom Ellwood
29. Dave Ellwood
I can’t give the reason these names were selected, but I highly suggest getting your hands on a copy. It is in paperback, available through Amazon, and only costs $6.00. Aside from the names of some true legends in the Baltimore Police Department, you’ll read some great stories as to why these men were selected.
* They are also on the Baltimore Historical Society’s Hall of Fame page.
** These are guys Ken recognized and admired, guys he modeled his policing style on, or guys he later learned of and admired.
Some were both on the Hall of Fame page, and among those, Ken admired. I just didn’t know how to put symbols on those names.
POLICE INFORMATION
We are always looking for copies of your Baltimore Police class photos, pictures of our officers, vehicles, and newspaper articles relating to our department and/or officers; old departmental newsletters, old departmental newsletters, lookouts, wanted posters, and/or brochures; information on deceased officers; and anything that may help preserve the history and proud traditions of this agency. Please contact retired detective Kenny Driscoll.
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