Allan Richards, 53, from Thaxted Road, Birmingham, served with the force for 31 years and is charged with committing the crimes against boys aged 11-18 between 1983 and 2013.
He also faces two counts of misconduct in public office.
West Midlands Police said it had referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
The former officer has been charged with a series of sexual assaults, indecent assaults and sexual touching.
The force said the charges of misconduct in public office related to alleged misuse of police powers to sexually exploit boys while he was a serving police officer.
Mr Richards was a police constable between 1980 and 2011.
He is due to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday.
A former West Midlands Police officer has been charged with more than 30 child sex offences.