An Austin police officer left his service gun in the restroom at the Travis County Criminal Justice Complex, police officials said Thursday.

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said the officer was at the complex Wednesday to testify in a case when he used the bathroom and left his gun. Acevedo said he believes it was only a few minutes later when someone else spotted the weapon and notified authorities.

"We are no different than the rest of society. We make mistakes. People make mistakes," Acevedo said. "In this instance, from what I have seen so far, it's just a mistake of the mind -- rather embarrassing. It's embarrassing to the organization; it's embarrassing to the detective."

Acevedo says officers will be instructed to keep their weapons in their holsters and holsters on their belt. APD will also conduct an internal investigation.

This isn't the first time an officer has left his gun unattended. In July, Austin police suspended the use of a certain kind of gun holster after an officer lost his loaded gun at Slaughter Creek Metropolitan Park in Southwest Austin.

Police say Officer Daniel Eveleth took his police dog to the park after their shift. He says the dog may have knocked the gun out of his thigh holster.