The allegations against off-duty officer Darrell Best are serious and disheartening. The fact that he used his position as a pastor and a counselor to gain access to his victims is extremely disturbing. Once MPD became aware of the allegations, we immediately conducted an investigation, obtained a warrant, and arrested him.

Darrell Best is a 25 year member of the Metropolitan Police Department currently assigned as a police officer to the Fourth District. He is 45 years of age and resides in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Best is charged with three counts of First Degree Sex Abuse of a Minor. The charge First Degree Sex Abuse of a Minor is due to what is defined in District law as the “significant relationship” he held with the victim in his role as a pastor and counselor.

As outlined in D.C. Official Code § 22–3001(10), a "significant relationship" includes:

“Any employee or volunteer of a school, church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious institution, or an educational, social, recreational, athletic, musical, charitable, or youth facility, organization, or program, including a teacher, coach, counselor, clergy, youth leader, chorus director, bus driver, administrator, or support staff, or any other person in a position of trust with or authority over a child or a minor.”