Stefan Bekowsky

Personal

Status

Alive

Birth

August 15, 1921 (age 26)

Gender

Male

Affiliation(s)

LAPD
Cole Phelps
Rusty Galloway
Gordon Leary
James Donnelly
Roy Earle

Location

Los Angeles

LAPD
Rank	Department
Detective	Traffic, Homicide

General

Weapon(s)

.38 Detective Revolver

Actor

Sean McGowan

"I've heard all about you, Phelps. You go easy on me and let me earn the odd citation, then maybe we'll get along."

―Stefan Bekowsky, joking upon meeting Cole Phelps.

Stefan Bekowsky is a central character in L.A. Noire. Bekowsky is Cole Phelps' partner while he is assigned to the Traffic desk, and later Rusty Galloway's partner on the Homicide desk when Phelps is promoted to Vice.

Biography

Background

Stefan Bekowsky was born on August 15, 1921, in California. He is from a Polish American family and is often referred to as "Polack" or "everyone's favourite Pole". In 1939, when he was 18, he joined the Los Angeles Police Department as a police officer. When World War II broke out Bekowsky was declared unfit for military service for reasons unknown. He worked as a Patrol Officer for a period of six years, and was involved in the Zoot Suit Riots.

In 1944, he was recognized by his superiors as a good investigator, being recommended by Captain James Donnelly for a promotion to the rank of Detective and immediate transfer to the Traffic department. His time in Traffic gave him little opportunity for recognition or a promotion, though he worked to be a proficient and experienced detective.

Events of L.A. Noire

Traffic

"Six years on patrol before I got this desk, you were here in five minutes."

―Bekowsky on Phelps' swift promotion to detective

Three years later, Stefan met his new partner, Cole Phelps, who later became a good friend, and helped him to investigate many crimes. They pursued a string of intriguing cases on the Traffic Desk, such as uncovering acts of conspiracies, fraud and even murder, while generating good press for the department.

Their cases included exposing Adrian Black's clumsy attempt to fake his death, retrieving Consul General Valdez's car while damaging his reputation, solving Lester Pattison's murder, and foiling Gordon Leitvol's stolen auto racket.

While investigating a Chevy Skyline crash off a cliff, Bekowsky got the chance to meet his favorite B-movie star, June Ballard, though she rudely dismissed him. His admiration soon turned to disgust during the investigation, as Bekowsky discovered that June had set up her own niece to be drugged and raped by Mark Bishop.

Bekowsky and Phelps later went to arrest Marlon Hopgood for his part in Jessica's rape and for child pornography, but their arrest attempt was blocked by Roy Earle due to Hopgood's work as a Vice informant. When confronted by Johnny Goldberg and Frank Steiner, Bekowsky pushed stern warnings against them before having to fight them off in a drive-by shootout.

Bekowsky radioed for backup as Phelps went ahead into the Intolerance Set to apprehend Bishop, as well as providing Phelps with support and were able to defeat a small army of Guy McAfee's goons. Having upstaged the Vice Department by bringing down Bishop while thwarting McAfee's efforts, Phelps was later promoted to Burglary, then Homicide, and eventually moved up to Vice. After Phelps went up from Homicide to Vice, Bekowsky was promoted to Homicide and partnered with Rusty Galloway.

Vice

"I haven't got time to jaw, Cole. The Captain wants me to make this case."

―Stefan Bekowsky

Bekowsky, Phelps, Galloway and Earle all had a brief reunion while investigating the Julia Randall case. Bekowsky's assistance helped take down Henry Arnett and Willy Reade. Bekowsky also initially investigated the 111 Club shooting, until Phelps and Earle took over for leads on the stolen morphine distribution.

Arson

After Phelps' death, Bekowsky, along with Phelps' other former partners, attended his funeral to pay their respects.

Personality

"I've heard all about you, Phelps. You go easy on me and let me earn the odd citation and maybe we will get along fine."

―Bekowsky, greeting Phelps.

At first, Bekowsky found it irritating that Phelps was promoted from patrol officer to detective after serving the force for less than a year, as Bekowsky worked as a patrol officer for six years. However, he ultimately got along well with Phelps, offering his knowledge and experience to aide their investigations.

"Hope you like work, kid. Bekowsky sure as hell doesn't."

―Joseph Hobbes on Bekowsky's work ethic.

Bekowsky was regarded as a slacker within the department, and Earle describes him as a "pushover". However, if either of these statements were justified, there was little indication of it during his partnership with Phelps. Once Phelps was promoted to Vice, Bekowsky was quickly promoted to the post in Homicide that Cole had vacated.

Bekowsky had a reputation of being a bit of a joker, though ironically, he had a strong distaste for car salesmen as he found them irritating and unbearably comedic.

Case Appearances

Traffic

Vice

"The Naked City"
"Manifest Destiny"

Arson

"A Different Kind of War"

Street Crimes (Traffic)

Trivia

At 26, Stefan is the youngest partner that Phelps gets to work with.
According to Bekowsky's character dossier, he is 6 feet tall and weighs 195 lbs.
Stefan sometimes refers to Cole as "kid", even though he is younger than him (at 26). He could be referring to the fact that Phelps has less police experience than he does.
Bekowsky is the only partner that does not complain if you commandeer a service vehicle.
Stefan drives a 1947 black Buick Super. It is fitted by the LAPD with a siren and a radio.
During one conversation during the "A Slip of the Tongue" case, Cole implies that Stefan has low standards in women, to which he responds "my standards are as high as the last glass of whiskey."
Bekowsky refers to women as 'Broads' just like Cole's other partners. He also calls them 'dames,' and 'sisters.'
His badge number is 875.
At the funeral, Bekowsky sits in the other section; the one opposite the one Jack sits in.