Popkin will not seek fourth term as sheriff

by Judith Hruz

Editor

After three terms as sheriff and more than 37 years serving in the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Darren M. Popkin will not seek a fourth term next year.

Popkin made the announcement on June 8.

“Upon thoughtful consideration, I have made the decision to not seek an additional term as the sheriff of Montgomery County,” he announced on Facebook.

His current term will continue until Dec. 1, 2022.

As he completes his term, “you have my commitment as sheriff to continue to serve our community, as I have done every day for the past 37 years.”

Popkin said he is “incredibly grateful to every member of the Sheriff’s Office, past and present, Assistant Sheriffs Chris McBain Calantonio and Bruce Sherman, friends, residents of the community, and most importantly my amazing family.

He continued, “After giving 10-12 hours or more every day during my career as sheriff, it is time to devote some of that precious time to my wife Suzanne, my children, their significant others and my sweet new grandchild, Baby Miles.”

He called the decision not to seek re-election “challenging,” but said he feels “a great sense of encouragement in the future of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office , as Chief Deputy Maxwell Uy has filed his candidacy for the office of sheriff.”

Popkin said he is endorsing Uy as sheriff because of Uy’s “experience, dedication and leadership throughout his career.”

Uy announced his candidacy the same day Popkin said he would not seek another term.

Before being elected as sheriff in December 2010, Popkin had been chief deputy sheriff since1998 and deputy sheriff from 1985 to 1998.

He attended Robert E. Peary High School in Aspen Hill, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in law enforcement from the University of Maryland, College Park, and is a graduate of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development School.

He has been president and vice president of the Maryland Sheriffs’ Association, a member of the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association, National Sheriffs’ Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police and Lodge 35 of the Montgomery County Fraternal Order of Police.

“It has been an incredible honor to serve the residents of Montgomery County as the sheriff,” Popkin told The Greater Olney News. “As I transition out of the Sheriff’s Office over the next 18 months, I will always cherish the incredibly professional and dedicated [Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office] staff, the amazing residents of this great county and the relationships with so many wonderful people. I am truly someone who has lived the saying, ‘If you choose a job you love, you will never have to work a day in your life.’”

        The information is not intended to be complete coverage of the issues nor an endorsement of any candidate or issue. Elections for county and state offices will be held in 2022. The Primary Election is set for June 28, 2022. The General Election is set for Nov. 8, 2022.