LOUISVILLE, KY — The National Liquor Law Enforcement Association (NLLEA) presented the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s (ODPS) Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) with the NLLEA Liquor Law Enforcement Public Safety Agency of Year Award. NLLEA also honored OIU Assistant Agent-in-Charge (AAIC) Robert Boldin with NLLEA Liquor Law Enforcement Agent of the Year award.
“The NLLEA is proud to honor OIU for their commitment to programs that keep our communities safe, as well as Assistant Agent-in-Charge Boldin for his outstanding performance and efforts toward the protection of public safety through the enforcement of alcohol laws in Ohio,” said NLLEA President Fredrick Mahony.
NLLEA selected OIU because of the agency’s dedication to reduce alcohol-related fatalities through the trace-back program. The program allows for immediate response of OIU agents to alcohol-related fatalities that occur on Ohio’s roadways. The success of the agency’s hard work has contributed to the decline of alcohol-related fatalities in Ohio over the last two years, by tracing the source of alcohol after an alcohol-related crash or incident, or a situation involving minors and alcohol.
“OIU’s trace-back program has become a national model for other law enforcement agencies to go the extra step after alcohol related tragedies,” said ODPS Director John Born. “The success of the program is a credit to the agents that have been working so hard to bring these people to justice and make Ohio a safer place.”
Boldin has demonstrated creativity and innovation to enhance the image of liquor law enforcement. His work in alcohol law enforcement has directly influenced the ways in which Ohio governs gambling. Boldin showed leadership while coordinating more than 100 law enforcement officers and prosecutors in Ohio and in other states to investigate more than 50 separate internet cafes and their operators in Northeast Ohio.
“A well-deserved honor for AAIC Boldin which highlights his exemplary public service,” said Born. “This is an example of the hard work and dedication the men and women of the Investigative Unit are performing every day.”
OIU and AAIC Boldin accepted the awards during the NLLEA Conference Awards Luncheon held in Louisville, Ky.
NLLEA is a non-profit association of law enforcement personnel dedicated to the enforcement of liquor laws and regulations. The membership structure is open to all levels of persons involved in enforcing liquor laws in the United States and Canada.
OIU agents are plain-clothed fully sworn peace officers. OIU is charged with enforcing the state’s liquor laws and is the only state law enforcement agency specifically tasked with investigating food stamp fraud crimes. Agents also investigate tobacco violations.