TAMPA, Fla. — A former Tampa police officer was arrested Wednesday on 100 counts of child pornography after "disturbing evidence" was found on several of his personal devices.
Newly sworn-in Chief Mary O'Connor announced the arrest during a press conference saying the department's investigation into Paul Mumford, 61, began from a tip in Dec. 2021.
“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.
According to O'Connor, detectives executed a series of search warrants at Mumford's two homes — in Hillsborough County and North Florida — where child pornographic images were recovered from his electronic devices.
“This case is disturbing and disappointing, to say the least," O'Connor said, in part.
The police department says Mumford retired in 2015 as a sergeant and had been serving as a volunteer reserve officer ever since. The 61-year-old was relieved of his duties shortly after the investigation began in Feb. 2022.
Mumford is also said to have worked in the Tampa Police Department's Sex Crimes Unit from 2008 to 2009. At this time, O'Connor says TPD does not "have any information that indicates [Mumford] obtained any of the images from the department.”
O'Connor says while Mumford was on the force the unit mainly handled cases of battery and child abuse. The department's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit was formed following his retirement in 2015-2016.
“The actions of this retired officer do not represent the brave men and women of this department who go out and risk their lives on a daily basis to keep this community safe," O'Connor said.
The Tampa Police Department says the investigation is ongoing and more charges could be pending. TPD says it is unclear at this time if Mumford had access to or worked on any child pornography cases while with the department.
“We will always operate at the highest level of accountability and transparency because that’s what our community expects and that’s what the community deserves," O'Connor added.
Mumford served as a Tampa police officer from June 1986 through Sept. 2015.