ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico State Police placed Sgt. Toby Lafave on leave in connection with a DWI scheme involving law enforcement in the state.

NMSP Chief Troy Weisler confirmed he placed Lafave on administrative leave, pending an FBI inquiry and an internal investigation. Lafave is the first NMSP officer publicly named as having possible ties to the “DWI Deception” scheme. Court records show he is not facing criminal charges at this time.

“Let me be clear. Any misconduct or criminal behavior within our ranks will not be tolerated. The New Mexico State Police holds its officers to the highest ethical and professional standards. If it is found Sergeant LaFave’s actions have violated the law or our policies, he will be dealt with swiftly and decisively,” Weisler stated Friday in a news release.

Lafave received the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers’ officer of the year award in 2013 and 2014. In September 2017, NMSP commended him for his 100th DWI arrest of the year.

Federal court documents previously stated “Officer Members of the DWI Enterprise included officers from APD, BCSO and NMSP,” while adding “APD had the most Officer Members.”

The attorney at the center of this scheme, Thomas Clear III, pleaded guilty to federal charges Wednesday. Three APD officers and Clear’s former paralegal, Rick Mendez, each also took a plea deal in the case.

Mendez’s plea agreement laid out how Clear carried out the scheme. It set off a chain of criminal charges and plea deals that have followed in the three weeks since.

MORE: DWI Deception