After years of hiding, Summit County sheriff’s deputy comes out as transgender
On the morning of April 12, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office called a mandatory staff-wide meeting in the largest courtroom at the justice center in Breckenridge. Employees from the District Attorney’s Office came as well, along with probation staff and court clerks.
Few in the room knew the reason for the unprecedented gathering of the entire Summit County Justice Center campus. Some mistakenly thought there might be an announcement about raises.
“The sheriff asked everyone, ‘Hey I’ve heard there are some rumors about why we’re here today, does anybody want to share one?'” recalled the sheriff’s operations commander and SWAT leader, Lesley Mumford. “Devin, my 7-year-old-son, raises his hand, stands up on his chair and says, ‘Because my mom’s going to tell you she’s transgender.'”
At the time, most of the people in the room knew her as Wesley, a 13-year veteran of the sheriff’s office. With that announcement — carefully planned over four months — Mumford took the final step in a long-awaited gender transition.
Newly-transitioned Summit County Sheriff Deputy Lesley Mumford stands in front of the Summit County Justice Center Thursday June 15, in Breckenridge. Photo courtesy Hugh Carey, The Summit Daily
Newly-transitioned Summit County Sheriff Deputy Lesley Mumford stands in front of the Summit County Justice Center Thursday June 15, in Breckenridge. Photo courtesy Hugh Carey, The Summit Daily
Newly-transitioned Summit County Sheriff Deputy Lesley Mumford stands in front of the Summit County Justice Center Thursday June 15, in Breckenridge. Photo courtesy Hugh Carey, The Summit Daily
Newly-transitioned Summit County Sheriff Deputy Lesley Mumford stands in front of the Summit County Justice Center Thursday June 15, in Breckenridge. Photo courtesy Hugh Carey, The Summit Daily