We first learned about this investigation Tuesday, after receiving a copy of a letter from the daughter of the officer who was in charge of the evidence room.

FDLE confirmed the investigation to us late Monday afternoon, but Lynn Haven police officials did not return our calls. The letter says the amount of missing money is in the thousands.

Audrey Brazzell sent this letter to Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen on October 22nd, saying her father Sgt. Larry Thomas discovered $2,500 missing from the Lynn Haven police department's evidence locker.

Brazzell claims Thomas reported the missing money to Assistant Police Chief Dennis Kiah. Thomas' evidence room key was then confiscated.

Brazzell said officers then started accusing Thomas of being a thief. A few days later, the FDLE got involved.

That's when they discovered even more money missing, a little over $4,000 total. Thomas has hired local attorney Waylon Graham to represent him. Graham says this case isn't going to be easy.

What is appears like for a long time they treated the evidence room like a supply room. Virtually anyone and everyone had access," Graham said.

Graham says there are no cameras in the room.

"I think this is a prime example of why maintaining tight control on the evidence room and who comes and goes. If you let enough into the hen house so to speak to steal eggs, then you don't know who really stole the eggs," Graham added.

Graham says Thomas could be a target because he's about to retire. Police Chief David Messer issued a short written statement this afternoon confirming the investigation, but refused to comment any further.

In her letter to McKeithen, Brazzell wrote that Messer must be an ostrich with his head in a hole not to see what is going on. The FDLE investigation could take weeks.