David Wayne Bowen, a Baltimore City police officer for more than 35 years, died Tuesday of lung cancer at his Brooklyn Park home. He was 55.

Mr. Bowen was known as a dedicated police officer with the ability to connect with residents of the South Baltimore neighborhoods he patrolled.

"Everyone knew him, and he knew everyone," said Sgt. Doug Baumgarten of the Southern District, where Mr. Bowen was assigned. As a result, people listened to him and respected him, Mr. Baumgarten said. "He had a way of going in there and diffusing the situation."

Mr. Bowen's years of experience and ability to handle any situation earned him the nickname "The Colonel."

He spent his whole life in the Brooklyn Park area. As a teen-ager, he served with the Brooklyn Volunteer Fire Department.

After graduating from Brooklyn Park High School in 1965, he worked for several years at Maryland Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. In 1967, he graduated from the police academy.

"He always wanted to be a cop," said his brother, Albert "Woody" Bowen, of Brooklyn Park. "I just think the whole thing was taking care of people."

Mr. Bowen's wife, Sandra, said her husband had compassion even for people he arrested. "He treated them the way he would want to be treated," she said.

Mrs. Bowen recalled how a young man her husband helped send to jail mailed the officer a letter after reading about his illness in the newspaper. The inmate thanked Mr. Bowen for his efforts to reach out to him and wished him well.

"That spoke so well about the kind of person [David] was," Mrs. Bowen said.

Mr. Bowen's family recalled him buying shoes for a child who wouldn't go out to play because his didn't fit. He also helped a young drug dealer find a job and turn his life around.

Even after his cancer was diagnosed and he was tired from chemotherapy and the illness, Mr. Bowen worked several hours each day in his station's crime statistics office.

In March, hundreds of officers, community members and friends bought all the tickets to a fund-raiser so Mr. Bowen and his wife could realize their dream of going on a cruise. They went with their grandson at the end of September.

For many years, he enjoyed playing softball with the police league, but his main focus outside of work was his family.

Mr. Bowen married the former Sandra Winberry in 1973 and raised two daughters, Melissa L. Bowen and Michelle L. Bowen. He enjoyed taking his girls fishing and crabbing on the Eastern Shore.

Seven years ago, he became a devoted grandfather who "lived and breathed for his grandson," Mrs. Bowen said.

A service will be held at 11 a.m. today at St. John Lutheran Church, 226 Washburn Ave.

In addition to his wife, brother and daughters, he is survived by two other brothers, Dennis R. Bowen of Almond, N.C., and Daniel K. Bowen of Pasadena; a sister, Darlene Walk of Mount Airy; and a grandson.