29-05-2025
Baltimore officials announce new sheriff's office unit to crack down on ‘nuisance' liquor stores
From left: Del. Stephanie Smith, Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Cogen, Senate President Bill Ferguson, Sen. Mary Washington and Del. Melissa Wells. (Photo by Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters)
Lawmakers and Baltimore City officials announced a new unit within the Baltimore City Sheriff's Office Wednesday to crack down on 'nuisance' liquor stores and other venues where liquor is sold.
'We know the enforcement around liquor license establishments is something that has been a challenge for the city,' Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said Wednesday at the Baltimore City Board of Liquor License Commissioners' office. 'It's not really about reducing crime, but deterring crime before it happens.'
Under a law approved in the 2025 legislative session, the Office of the Sheriff of Baltimore City will create the Neighborhood Services Unit to collaborate with liquor license officials to better enforce liquor laws throughout the city, specifically in high-traffic areas and entertainment districts such as Federal Hill and Fells Point.
'This is a commitment to strengthening our neighborhoods, enhancing public safety and holding accountable those who disregard our liquor laws and contribute to disorder in our community,' Ferguson said. 'This unit will focus on targeted enforcement during peak hours and in high-traffic areas.'
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Del. Stephanie Smith (D-Baltimore City), who sponsored House Bill 1293 to formally establish that collaboration, said that the presence of liquor stores can bring unanticipated 'woes' into neighborhoods and communities such as increased litter, unlawful actions and reckless behavior.
'Businesses can be partners, and they can be great neighbors, but this is about ensuring that they're not nuisances,' Smith said.
There is already collaboration between the sheriff's office and the Board of License Commissioners for Baltimore City, according to Sen. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City), the chair of the city delegation in the Senate.
But the new law,which takes effect Oct. 1, will let the Board of License Commissioners enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Neighborhood Services Unit to better facilitate enforcement of Baltimore's liquor laws, and make sure 'the Liquor Board and the sheriff's office are working together hand-in-hand,' Washington said.
'They actually do work together, but this is actually providing a structure — where they do it, where there's clear roles, shared information and coordinated enforcement,' she said.
Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Cogen said that some of the details will be worked out when his office sits down with the liquor board to write up the memorandum of understanding.
'You'll see underage alcohol enforcement,' he said. 'We would do some inspections that would be community driven … You'll see sheriff's deputies and sheriff cars working with liquor inspectors and working with the police department, going out and doing enforcement work.'
'We're talking about collaboration,' Cogen said. 'We're talking about using all the resources that the city has to make city residents feel safer and to be able to help the community.'
