Two high-ranking New Jersey state troopers have been temporarily reassigned amid a probe into the disappearance of a state-issued handgun from another trooper's locker at the Somerville barracks.

State Police cruiser
loading...

The Star-Ledger of Newark says it's still not clear if the gun was lost or stolen. It says a veteran trooper reported the weapon missing last month after he returned from vacation.

Citing unidentified sources, the newspaper says the Somerville barracks commander and an assistant station commander were reassigned as part of an internal investigation. State police declined comment on the reassignments, but confirmed the internal review is ongoing.

Authorities say the state police have more than 3,000 firearms, which are regularly inspected and inventoried. They say it's "rare" for a trooper's weapon to be stolen or go missing.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM