Missing Police Officer May Have Been Spotted in Vermont

Brookline police have confirmed that they received reports that a police officer missing for more than a month was spotted in Vermont, though they were unable to confirm the sighting.

Officer Thomas Shea has not been in contact with his family or the police department since Aug. 16, though he reportedly walked into an Allston television studio on Aug. 30,  the same day Brookline Patch and other media outlets first reported on his disappearance.

At the time, Brookline police reported that Shea had access to a firearm and has been "experiencing financial difficulties." But Lt. Phillip Harrington said today that Shea's family has since returned his department-issued gun to police.

"Our concerns are still for him," Harrington said. "The only thing that has changed is that the firearm has been returned."

Before the reported sightings in Allston and Vermont, Shea was last seen in Natick on Aug. 16 driving a grey 2005 Toyota Avalon with Massachusetts license plates reading 60MG04. His family reported him missing to the Canton Police Department on Aug. 26.

Shea is described as a 41-year-old white male, about 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds with brown hair. The 16-year veteran has been out on medical leave for work-related injuries since June 28, according to Lt. Harrington.

Since Shea's disappearance was reported, Brookline investigators have been working with state police in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, as well as local police in Springfield, VT, where the missing officer's family has a summer home.

If you have information about Shea or his whereabouts, please contact either the Brookline Police Department at 617-730-2222 or the Canton Police Department at 781-821-5090.