A Malden police officer accused of seeking prescription painkillers from an alleged drug dealer has lost his job, officials confirmed this week.

Investigators said incriminating text messages from then Officer Brian Killion's mobile device were discovered after the January 2012 arrest of a Malden man on alleged drug and firearms charges.

Killion, an 18 year veteran of the department and the nephew of former Mayor Richard Howard, is appealing the decision but no longer on active duty with the city.