New Center Township constable fires deputies in disgraced office

INDIANAPOLIS — Kenneth Allen, the newly elected constable for Center Township , is making major changes to the office and announced Thursday he was firing all deputy constables appointed by the previous leader.

The Center Township constable's office has made headlines in recent years because of scandals surrounding former constable Denise Hatch.

Hatch was embroiled in several criminal cases this last year after police launched an extensive investigation into the constable's office that led to criminal charges.

In early October, Hatch pleaded guilty in Marion Superior Court to official misconduct, a low-level felony and misdemeanor count of unlawful carrying a handgun, charges she picked up after police say they spotted her wearing her constable uniform and carrying a Glock handgun in her waistband.

More: Center Township Constable pleads guilty to official misconduct charge, removed from office

In his announcement, Allen noted people in possession of Center Township identification cards, Center Township Constable badges, and municipal plates need to return these items by 5 p.m. Nov. 22 or the constable's office will take action against former deputies who fail to comply.

"Those actions may include pursuing criminal charges or civil penalties for unlawfully impersonating a law-enforcement officer or conversion of government property," the announcement reads.

Who is Kenneth Allen Prior to Allen's appointment to the Center Township constable's office, he served on the Indianapolis Public Schools board since 2021.

Allen lost his re-election bid to the school board in this year's election to Deandra Thompson, after only receiving 21.5% of the vote, compared to Thompson's 56.3% and Carrie Harris's 22.2%.

But a few days after his defeat in the election, Allen was selected as Center Township's newest constable, which led him to resign from his seat on the Indianapolis Public Schools board. He was set to end his term on Dec. 31 of this year.

Indiana law does not allow a person to hold two elected offices in the state at the same time.

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Craig Regans: The judge and constable disagreed. Then the constable arrested two township employees.

IndyStar reporter Sarah Nelson and Caroline Beck contributed to this reporting.

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