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Sheriff · Baltimore City · 2026 Primary
The Sheriff is an elected official responsible for maintaining courthouse security, serving legal documents such as warrants and evictions, and transporting individuals in custody. In many Maryland counties, the Sheriff’s Office also serves as the primary law enforcement agency, conducting patrols and investigating crimes. This office is a key part of the local justice system, ensuring that court orders are enforced and the public is protected.
View all candidates in this raceSam Cogen is the 41st Sheriff of Baltimore City, first elected in November 2022 after a 25-year career within the Sheriff’s Office. He rose through the ranks from intern to Assistant Sheriff, eventually resigning to run for the top position against a long-term incumbent. Cogen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a focus on criminal justice from Goucher College. Since taking office, he has focused on modernizing the department's technology, rewriting general orders to meet national standards, and humanizing the eviction process through a first-of-its-kind social work resource program for tenants. He also established a Neighborhood Services Unit to address community complaints and has focused warrant apprehension resources on repeat violent offenders.
Sources: Campaign website
“When I ran for office, I promised the residents of Baltimore that if they honored me with the opportunity to serve as the people’s Sheriff, that we would modernize the office, humanize the evictions process, and become far more active in neighborhoods all throughout our City. Today, I stand before you proud to report that we have delivered on those promises.”
“On November 30, 2022, Sam Cogen made history when swore in as the 41st Sheriff and made history again later that day when he plugged a computer into the office wall for the first time.”
“Having served on a warrant apprehension squad himself, Sam was able to implement a best practice to focus efforts on this limited group of individuals who commit the majority of the violent crime in our city and are often the same individuals who become victims of homicides themselves.”
“Our deputies are sworn law enforcement officers who perform complex and demanding work. This agreement recognizes that reality while also providing stability, predictability, and fairness for our workforce.”
Source: baltimoresheriff.com
Humanizing Evictions
Implemented a social work resource program to connect tenants in eviction proceedings with state and local aid.
“Sam created a social work resource program that helps connect tenants in eviction proceedings to state and local resources that may be available.”
Modernization and Accountability
Rewriting the office's General Orders to meet national standards and pursuing CALEA certification.
“During Sam’s tenure, the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office rewrote the General Orders for the office in its entirety, with the new orders being to national standards, as the first step of the aspiration of becoming CALEA certified.”
Reducing Violent Crime
Using warrant apprehension squads to focus specifically on repeat violent offenders.
“Sheriff Cogen’s Office has devoted warrant apprehension resources to bring repeat violent offenders to justice–using best practices that Sam learned while serving on a warrant apprehension squad.”
Community Responsiveness
Creating a Neighborhood Services Unit to respond directly to community complaints and improve neighborhood livability.
“a unit within the agency designed to be responsive directly to the complaints of the community and devoting resources to make all our neighborhoods more livable.”
External reporting highlights Cogen's efforts to professionalize the Sheriff’s Office, including the ratification of a three-year contract in 2026 that provides deputies a 17% salary increase and mandates two deputies be present during evictions for safety. He has made significant policy changes such as barring no-warrant ICE arrests at Baltimore courthouses and partnering with Coppin State University to certify modern Court Security Officers. News coverage also notes his long career trajectory from intern to the third-highest ranking member of the office before he successfully challenged his former boss for the Sheriff's seat.
“Sheriff Cogen’s Office has devoted warrant apprehension resources to bring repeat violent offenders to justice”
Source“the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office implemented the first social work resource program for tenant assistance in any Sheriff’s Office in the history of the State of Maryland.”
Source“Baltimore Sheriff Sam Cogen said Thursday that his office would not allow United States Immigration... no-warrant ICE arrests barred at Baltimore courthouses”
Source“Sam is proud to work collaboratively with the Police Accountability Board to ensure that reforms to the office are effective while constitutional and meet the community standard.”
Source“legislation that created the Neighborhood Services Unit took effect, marking another historic first for the Sheriff’s Office: a unit within the agency designed to be responsive directly to the complaints of the community”
Source“The deal provides for a 17% total salary increase over three years, including a 7% increase that is retroactive to June 1, 2025.”
Source