Police Say Missing Cop Has Contacted Family

The search for a missing Brookline police officer was called off today after his family reported that he had contacted them.

Officer Thomas Shea had been considered missing since Aug. 16, though he was reportedly spotted in Vermont and at a TV studio in Allston in the last month. Brookline Police announced Shea's disappearance on Aug. 30, saying the 16-year veteran had access to a firearm and had been "experiencing financial difficulties."

Shea's family returned his department-issued firearm to police last week, but police officials said they were keeping up the search out of concern for the officer's safety.

Brookline Police announced today that Shea had contacted his family sometime in the last 24 hours and that the missing person report filed with Canton Police Department had been withdrawn by family members.

Officer Katie McCabe, a spokesman for the Brookline Police, said she did not have any information about Shea's condition or his status with the police department. Shea had been out on medical leave for work-related injuries since June 28.