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Sheriff Darren M. Popkin

Sheriff Darren M. Popkin

Sheriff Darren M. Popkin was initially elected as Montgomery County’s 61st Sheriff on November 2, 2010; and was re-elected on November 4, 2014 and November 6, 2018. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, established in 1777, has 160 sworn law enforcement officers and 36 civilians providing a wide range of judicial, law enforcement, and domestic violence intervention services for over one million Montgomery County residents. Prior to his election, Sheriff Popkin spent twelve years as Chief Deputy, directing the daily operations of the Sheriff’s Office. During his law enforcement career Sheriff Popkin rose through the ranks, serving in the Criminal, Administrative, Family, and Civil Divisions in the Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Popkin was a member of the strategic planning committee responsible for designing and implementing the interagency Montgomery County Family Justice Center (MC FJC) which opened in May, 2009 and has since provided assistance to thousands of clients. Sheriff Popkin continues his involvement in innovative programs designed to reduce the incidents of domestic violence in his executive management role with the MC FJC.

As co-chair of the joint legislative committee of the Maryland Chief of Police and Maryland Sheriffs’ Associations, Sheriff Popkin has direct involvement with the Maryland General Assembly in presenting the views of law enforcement on all major public safety legislation.

Sheriff Popkin received his B.A. degree in Law Enforcement from the University of Maryland, College Park, and graduated from the former Robert E. Peary High School. Darren's off-duty activities have included coaching boys' and girls' softball and basketball teams in local leagues and national tournaments. A family man and life-long county resident, Sheriff Popkin lives in Olney with his wife, where their three children grew up. Their son graduated from Montgomery County Public Schools and Towson University; one daughter is a recent college graduate and a technology company account manager; and a second daughter is currently completing medical school and in residency.

Sheriff Popkin has extensive involvement in law enforcement policy making and professional organizations including:

  • Chair, Montgomery County Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission
  • Past President Maryland Sheriffs' Association and current member of the Board of Directors
  • Co-chair, Maryland Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs’ Associations’ Joint Legislative Committee
  • Member Maryland Police Standards and Training Commission
  • Member Maryland Law Enforcement Coordinating Council
  • Member, Maryland Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC)
  • Member, National Sheriffs’ Association
  • Member, International Association of Chiefs of Police
  • Member, Fraternal Order of Police
  • Special Deputy, U. S. Marshal's Service
  • Graduate, FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development School (LEEDS)
  • Former member, Board of Directors, Montgomery Hospice