A police officer has been accused of hurting a child.

Texas City police Officer John Thorn, 38, has been charge with injury to a child.

Thorn works in the department's field investigation team and is a K-9 officer.

Sources close to the case told KPRC Local 2 that the Galveston County Sheriff's Office and Children's Protective Services got a tip that Thorn used a belt to repeatedly hit his 6-year-old son on his back, neck and face.

"I just can't see John doing that," neighbor Bill Blankenship said. "He loved them kids too much. John is just a nice guy."

Neighbors said Thorn recently moved out of the home he shared with his wife and two children.

"They used to argue a lot," neighbor Robert Briones said.

The Galveston County District Attorney's Office said that it could not release details about the investigation because a child was involved.

Thorn turned himself in to investigators on Monday morning and was released on bond.

Thorn has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.

If convicted, Thorn could lose his job and be sentenced to 2 to 10 years in prison or probation.