RM of Whitehead police officer Doug Gormley's police vehicle has turned up after it was stolen from his Brandon driveway overnight, but the gun stored inside it is missing.

“Criminals will take whatever opportunities they can to get their thrill,” said Gormley.

“It was my own personal revolver but I use it in the course of my duties. If you get called to an accident or something (and) there's a deer hit, I would use it versus my 9 mm,” he said.

His 9 mm work pistol was kept indoors.

His personal gun, a .22 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver, was in a plastic case hidden from view in his locked SUV, he said.

A public tip led Brandon police to the stolen 2008 Chevy Tahoe abandoned in an alley behind a business.

Though not immediately recognizable as a police vehicle, the burgundy SUV is marked.

“It had lights on top and I believe it had lights in the window for sure. It would stand out for sure,” said Const. Mike Pelechaty from Brandon police.

Gormley, a former RCMP officer, is the RM of Whitehead's only police officer. Responsible for many duties, he keeps his SUV at home.

“There's more equipment in the truck of value than the truck itself,” he said.

He'll get that back soon. But the missing gun concerns all officers involved.

“It is out there. It is a safety issue. So, our primary goal is to find it and the suspect or suspects,” said Const. Pelechaty.