Sheriff says Neighborhood Services Unit produced 47 joint investigations and 20 guilty findings on underage sales

Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Kogan briefed the delegation on the Neighborhood Services Unit the sheriff’s office launched under recent state law and an MOU with the Baltimore City Liquor Board.

Kogan described the unit’s work as an intelligence‑led partnership with liquor inspectors and said deputies and investigative staff use community 3‑1‑1 complaints and community association reports to identify problem establishments. “We conducted 47 joint investigations with the Liquor Board,” Kogan said, and reported that 20 cases recently went before the Liquor Board with guilty findings, including fines and at least one five‑day closure.

The sheriff described an undercover program that uses cadets to attempt underage purchases as a tool to detect illegal sales to minors. He also said the unit is currently supported by a $100,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention while local budget lines are adjusted.

Kogan urged continued cooperation among the sheriff’s office, the Liquor Board, Recreation & Parks rangers and other city partners to address underage sales, illegal pop‑up parties and other alcohol‑related neighborhood concerns.

What happens next: the Neighborhood Services Unit will continue joint operations with the Liquor Board; the sheriff’s office said it will provide documentation of results to the delegation and coordinate community outreach about problem establishments.