After “disturbing evidence” was discovered on several of his personal devices, a former Tampa police officer was arrested on 100 charges of child pornography on Wednesday.
During a news briefing, newly sworn-in Chief Mary O’Connor announced the arrest, saying the department’s investigation into Paul Mumford, 61, began in December 2021 with a tip.
“As your police chief, I pledge to always operate in a transparent and accountable manner and today I am here to make good on that promise,” she said.
Detectives executed a number of search warrants at Mumford’s two houses — in Hillsborough County and North Florida — where child pornographic photos were discovered from his computer devices, according to O’Connor.
“This case is disturbing and disappointing, to say the least,” O’Connor said, in part.
Mumford retired as a sergeant in 2015 and has been a volunteer reserve officer ever since, according to the police department. Shortly after the investigation was launched in February 2022, the 61-year-old was stripped of his duties.
Mumford is also believed to have worked in the Sex Crimes Unit of the Tampa Police Department from 2008 to 2009. At this time, TPD does not “have any information that shows [Mumford] obtained any of the photographs from the department,” according to O’Connor.
According to O’Connor, the unit primarily dealt with cases of battery and child abuse when Mumford was on the force. Following his retirement in 2015-2016, the department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit was founded.
According to the Tampa Police Department, the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed. TPD says it is unknown whether Mumford had access to or handled any child pornography cases while working for the department.
Mumford was a Tampa police officer from June 1986 to September 2015.
