Vancouver police are scrambling to find a police firearm that a cop lost during a foot chase in the Downtown Eastside Wednesday.

VPD issued a news release said "an intensive search is underway" for the gun - a Sig Sauer P226 pistol with serial number U778210.

Const. Jana McGuinness said the gun was lost about 3 p.m. near Oppenheimer Park.

"A man was allegedly seen by a witness picking up the firearm, but he has yet to come forward to police," McGuinness said.

"After working through the past 24 hours to exhaust all investigative avenues, the VPD is turning to the public for assistance to find the firearm. Anyone who finds the pistol should assume it is loaded and take every precaution to avoid touching it. They should immediately call 9-1-1 for assistance."

She said the gun was lost after two plainclothes VPD officers saw a drug deal in the north lane of the 300 block of Cordova Street.

One of the cops confronted the suspect who ran across Oppenheimer Park.

"The officer gave chase and pursued the suspect on foot through the 200 block of Dunlevy Street, across Oppenheimer Park and into the 300 block of Jackson Avenue, where the suspect, who was hiding in some bushes, was taken into custody," McGuinness said.

The second cop returned to the police car and drove to the arrest point a short distance away to help with the arrest.

The arresting officer then realized that his police firearm had fallen from its holster during the chase.

"An intensive canvass of the area for witnesses and video has since revealed that a man may have picked up the firearm from where it had fallen in the park but he has not come forward to turn it over to police," she said.

"Investigators are continuing to work various leads in an effort to find the man and the missing pistol," she said.

kbolan@vancouversun.com

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