IMPD officer arrested, suspended following accusations of child molestation
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An Indianapolis police officer is in custody after he was accused of multiple counts of child molestation.
Online jail records show that 35-year-old Kamal Bola, a 6-year veteran with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, was arrested in Hendricks County late Tuesday night.
On Tuesday, the child molestation claims against Bola were reported to the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office. Following an investigation, Bola was interviewed and taken into custody.
He faces preliminary charges of three counts of child molestation involving a child under 14 and one count of public voyeurism.
He is currently being held without bond, the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office said later Wednesday morning.
Bola was said to be off-duty at the time of the incident.
IMPD Chief Chris Bailey said in a statement Wednesday morning that the claims against Bola are “disturbing and entirely unacceptable.”
“Children must be able to trust that those in positions of authority will protect them at all times. We demand the highest standards of conduct from our officers, both on and off duty. These allegations represent a severe breach of trust the community places in law enforcement. Our thoughts are with the victim and their family. Ensuring the safety of our community, especially our most vulnerable members, is and will remain our highest priority,” Bailey said.
IMPD says Bola was suspended following his arrest pending a “recommendation of termination” to the IMPD Civilian Police Merit Board.
This is the second IMPD officer this year to face child sex crimes charges.
Sgt. Javed Richards was arrested in mid-August on 12 child pornography charges after he was accused of sending over 40 files of child sex abuse material over the messaging app Kik in July.
Richards’ next hearing was set for Sept. 10, and his jury trial for Oct. 21. In total, he could serve anywhere from 28 to 156 years in prison if convicted.
This story is breaking and will be updated with further information.
Help is available for victims of domestic violence. Below is a list of suggested resources on the Domestic Violence Network website:
- Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence: 24-hour hotline available at 800-332-7385
- Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking
- The Julian Center
- Indiana Child Abuse Hotline: 800-800-5556
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673