A 43-year-old Peel Regional Police officer has been charged in relation to the theft of her duty belt and firearm from her personal car in Barrie earlier this week.

Constable Tracy Cleland, a 16-year-old veteran with Peel Regional Police, was charged with careless storage of a firearm and she will appear in court in August to answer to the charge.

A .40 calibre Smith & Wesson handgun and ammunition was stolen from the officer who lives on Ross Street late Friday night or early Saturday morning.

Peel Regional Police won’t comment on why the constable brought her weapon home with her.

Barrie Police say the stolen handgun, all 46 rounds of ammunition, handcuffs and a pouch were located at a home on Clapperton Street on Tuesday. Two men in their 20s were arrested at the residence.

One of the men is charged with uttering threats to cause death, possession of a restricted firearm, theft under $5,000, possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace and three counts of failing to comply with a sentence. The other man is charged with theft under $5,000.

Police are still looking for help from the public in locating the officer’s baton and pepper spray that have not been recovered.

Retired OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis says he’s not sure what Peel Regional’s policy is on taking firearms home but normal procedure involves permission from a divisional commander.

“And that’s usually based on the fact that you’re working away from home and it’s easier to keep your gun with you rather than to go back to the station because maybe you’re doing undercover work or something that required you to be away all the time,” adds Lewis.

Peel Regional Police tells CTV News they are also conducting an internal investigation but the officer remains on the job but has been temporarily assigned to other duties.