AUSTIN — The pistol issued to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez while she was Dallas County Sheriff is missing, according to a sheriff’s report.

An investigation into what happened to the Beretta 9 mm pistol is ongoing, said Raul Reyna, spokesman for the sheriff’s department. He said Monday the office launched an investigation on July 13 when a report was created to document the missing weapon.

“Former Dallas County Sheriff Valdez has been approached about a missing firearm that was loaned to her during her administration and is working with the sheriff’s department to locate it,” read a statement from Reyna. “The firearm is considered missing and a report has been generated. If it is recovered, the firearm will be readily identifiable. The case is currently under investigation to determine what happened to the firearm.”

As first reported by the Dallas Morning News, the former sheriff was given the pistol when a gun of the same model she owned had a malfunction. A sheriff’s office report filed in July stated it is “likely” the pistol was stolen or misplaced when Valdez resigned from her post to run for office in December 2017.

The report was created to document the missing weapon in the event it was obtained by a criminal or used in a crime.

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Photo: Richard W. Rodriguez, FRE / Associated Press Photo: Kin Man Hui, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Staff Photographer / Houston Chronicle

“As mentioned in the report, it is possible that this weapon could have been stolen or misplaced during Sheriff Valdez's moving transition and she is working with Dallas County Sheriff Department to locate the firearm,” said Juan Bautista Dominguez, a spokesman for Valdez’ political campaign.

Valdez was first elected Dallas County sheriff in 2004. She stepped down to run for governor as a Democrat against Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

andrea.zelinski@chron.com

Twitter.com/andreazelinski