In December 2022, a Monmouth police officer misplaced a department-issued pistol while en route to an emergency call.
The gun was loaded with a single magazine at the time.
In a statement issued Friday afternoon, the police department said a search for the lost gun was initiated within minutes. The search went on for days and covered two miles but the gun has not been recovered.
The statement was the first public admission of the lost firearm.
“No public statement was made to date as it is not standard protocol for law enforcement agencies to release information about ongoing internal investigations,” the statement reads.
Following an internal review, the officer received the maximum discipline permitted under the governing union contract and the Illinois Officers’ Bill of Rights.
The police department is not releasing the officer’s name.
The firearm’s serial number has been entered into federal databases, according to the police department.
Anyone with information that may assist in locating the missing firearm is urged to contact Warren County CrimeStoppers at (309)734-9363.
