Editor’s note: This article contains descriptions of child abuse. If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, call the Indiana Department of Child Services’ Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-800-5556. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All adults are mandated reporters in Indiana.
A former Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer once commended for his work with crime victims now stands accused of sexually abusing two young girls, according to court documents. David B. McDaniel, 54, faces two counts of child molestation and a third count of attempting to molest a child under the age of 14.
The investigation began earlier this month when two 17-year-old girls told their families and McDaniel’s ex-wife that they both had been abused by McDaniel multiple times, beginning when they were about eight and nine years old.
Both girls reported that they were first abused by McDaniel while on out-of-state trips with him in Florida and Tennessee. They told police they discussed the assaults with one another, but never told an adult. Each girl also described being awoken by sexual assaults during the night while staying at McDaniel’s house.
McDaniel was a member of IMPD between 1995 and March 2024, and had been on the force for more than 20 years when the alleged abuse began in 2016. In 2022, McDaniel was honored with a plaque from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana for his “outstanding commitment to serving crime victims and pursuing excellence in victim services.” The ceremony was held in connection with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
IMPD declined to comment except to confirm that McDaniel is a former officer.
After retiring from IMPD last year, McDaniel worked as a police officer at Ascension St. Vincent. The health system did not respond to a request for comment.
IndyStar has requested McDaniel’s personnel file from IMPD.
‘There’s nothing I can do or say that will change or fix this’
McDaniel was on vacation with his brother in Florida when the ISP investigation began, detectives wrote. One of the victim’s parents received a text message from McDaniel imploring them to help his family “because they are embarrassed about what happened and afraid to lose their dad.”
In another message, McDaniel said that “if I end this now, (then) hopefully it doesn’t come out publicly” and would at least save the victims and his family humiliation.
“(There’s) nothing I can do or say that will change or fix this so I have to figure out what’s the best way to minimize (the) impact,” the message read in part.
McDaniel’s brother told police on July 12 that he believed McDaniel would take his own life, but that he was trying to talk him into turning himself in and doing the right thing.
Court documents don’t specify where McDaniel was over the next 10 days, but on July 22 he was arrested by Indiana State Police during a traffic stop in New Palestine.
A document titled “The Last Will & Testament of David Brian McDaniel” could be clearly seen on the front passenger’s seat, investigators noted.
McDaniel is being held in the Hancock County Jail. His initial hearing was scheduled for July 30 at 1 p.m.
IMPD officers arrested in 2024, 2025
On July 22, IMPD officer Nicholas Cauley was arrested after investigators say he used police resources to stalk and harass his ex-wife.
Four IMPD officers were charged with sex crimes last year. One of the defendants, Paul Humphrey, pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual misconduct with a minor on July 14. He’s accused of abusing a 15-year-old girl in January 2024.
The three other cases remain pending.
In September 2024, Kamal Bola, an officer of six years, was arrested in Hendricks County and charged with public voyeurism, three counts of child molesting, and one count of committing the crime of deadly force or being armed with a deadly weapon.
In August 2024, Javed Richards, an officer of 12 years who worked in internal affairs, was charged with 13 counts of child exploitation and one count of possession of child pornography after detectives discovered Richards was allegedly uploading and downloading material sexually exploiting children on the internet.
In April 2024, Lateral officer Myron Howard, who was with the department for one year, was charged with rape, criminal confinement, official misconduct, making an unlawful proposition, public indecency and public nudity. He’s accused of sexually assaulting two women in two separate situations after they had called 911 for help.
Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com. IndyStar Public Safety Reporter, Jade Jackson, contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Court docs: Ex-IMPD officer abused two children years before retiring from the force
Reporting by Ryan Murphy, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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