SAN JOSE — A 36-year-old Mountain View police officer renowned in the Bay Area for his lifelike sketches was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of felony possession and distribution of child pornography.

Officer Kevin Nguyen, a 7-year veteran, was placed on paid administrative leave following the arrest, according to Sgt. Saul Jaeger, a spokesman for Mountain View police.

San Jose police released scant details about the investigation and arrest but did say detectives located child pornography on a computer belonging to Nguyen at a residence in San Jose.

Detectives arrested Nguyen at the Mountain View Police Department on Tuesday afternoon after executing a search warrant at his San Jose home, Jaeger said. The arrest followed an investigation by San Jose police and the Internet Crimes Against Children task force.

Wednesday, the Mountain View Police Department issued a news release regarding the arrest of one of its own. Chief Scott S.G. Vermeer also posted on Facebook an open letter to the community regarding the arrest of Nguyen.

“We like to take an approach both internally and with the public of honesty and transparency,” Vermeer said in a telephone interview. “We’re incredibly disappointed and saddened by these types of allegations. Any arrest of a police officer is extremely troubling. When the allegation is of this nature, it’s even more exaggerated in how troubling it is.”

Nguyen worked as a patrol officer for the Mountain View police but also served as a sketch artist, Vermeer said. Nguyen was sought by other Bay Area law enforcement agencies to draw sketches of suspects

“He was used regionally based on his talent and expertise as a sketch artist,” Vermeer said.

Nguyen also volunteered in the community and was part of a youth mentoring group through the police activities league. As part of that, Nguyen taught an art class to students in the group.

Vermeer said he does not have any information about the allegations against Nguyen other than what has been made public by San Jose police. Vermeer said Mountain View police internal affairs investigators have launched an internal investigation.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact detective Pierce of the San Jose Police Department’s child exploitation detail at 408-537-1381.