BROCKTON, Mass. (WHDH) -- A Brockton police officer appeared in court Wednesday accused of stealing money from people who were under arrest.

The officer, Michael Sullivan, allegedly stole money from people at the Brockton police headquarters while they were in the booking room.

“He did the booking and I pull out my wallet and they start counting out cash while asking other questions. The property officer, if I remember right, he turned to me and he says, ‘You have about $100 here,’” said Michael Smith, a victim.

But Michael Smith says that was wrong. Smith says he had $140 and he knew one of the officers who was involved in booking him had stolen the $40. Smith was arrested on a motor vehicle charge and spent the night in jail.

“I’m saying, if I bring it up to any officer walking by or anything, they’re going to put the money back,” Smith said.

Smith finally blew the whistle and an internal investigation was launched at the Brockton Police Department. As a result, Officer Michael Sullivan, 54, was charged. He is accused of stealing small bills from people arrested who were brought to police headquarters.

“If somebody is doing that and he’s going to risk his job at that point after 25 years, my thing is, he’s practiced it like a con man, like a pick pocket,” said Smith.

Authorities said there were at least eight incidents where Sullivan stole money. Court papers said he manipulated the bills and that his actions were so quick and deliberate that it was clear his actions were in no way a mistake.

No one answered at Sullivan’s East Bridgewater address on Wednesday.

Court records quote Sullivan as saying, “I’m embarrassed and I’ve let everyone down.”

“I can’t believe he did this…to his career. To everybody,” Smith said.

Sullivan is not being held but is on paid administrative leave. He is due back in court in September.