Police Chief J. P. Levesque said the investigation will determine if the email constituted misconduct on the part of the officer who sent it. (CBC)

An apparent email gaffe has sparked a Thunder Bay Police Service internal investigation to determine if the nature of the email constitutes misconduct.

On Saturday, reporters received a strange media release that was quickly retracted.

The email from police said "The Fresh Breath Killer was captured in Kenora," followed by the word Scpoe, an apparent misspelling of Scope, a brand of mouthwash.

Within minutes, the officer sent another email saying the media release had been sent in error, and apologized for the mistake.

Later, reporters received another news release, saying a 33-year-old man had been arrested in Kenora to be charged with second-degree murder in the death of a 65-year-old First Nations man. Thunder Bay Police Chief J.P. Levesque said the first email was inappropriate, and there will be an internal disciplinary investigation.

"It's obviously a very unfortunate situation that doesn't bode well for us, and certainly our apologies [go] to the victim," he said.

Levesque said an internal investigation will determine what the email was about, and whether it constitutes misconduct.

Based on the preliminary information he has, he said he believes the mouthwash comment referred to material found at the crime scene.

Levesque said he hopes the email doesn't overshadow the long hours officers put into the investigation.

"Firstly, we're talking about a homicide and a loss of life, so [there is concern] for the victim and certainly his family," he said.