Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Robert Best was shot and killed during a foot pursuit of an auto theft suspect in an apartment complex at 3200 Curtis Drive in Suitland, Maryland. He and his partner were working a plainclothes detail when they observed the stolen vehicle. They chased the vehicle into Maryland where the suspects bailed out with the officers in pursuit. As Officer Best rounded the corner of a building the suspect placed a gun to his head and fired. The first shot missed, but as Officer Best fell the man shot him twice in the back. The man was shot and wounded by other officers before committing suicide. Officer Best had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for one year.
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- Permanent identifier
BO-US-DC-AD8CE825- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Officer Best gave the Metropolitan Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Best.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Robert K. Best is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Metropolitan Police Department, 70 of 131 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert K. Best's cause is highlighted.
How Robert K. Best Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert K. Best is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert K. Best was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
130 officers from Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
