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Milwaukee Assistant Police Chief Darryl Winston has been placed on administrative leave and his police powers suspended after a police stop Tuesday night, police said Wednesday night.

According to a news release from the Milwaukee Police Department:

Winston, 51, and his nephew were stopped around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the area of N. 31st St. and W. Silver Spring Drive. by a police officer from District 4. The area has high burglary and robbery rates. During the interview the officer learned the two men were Winston and his nephew.

According to Milwaukee police, the officer called for a supervisor to come to the scene, a normal request, and a field deputy inspector also responded. Police determined there was no cause for police action.

An internal investigation was launched Wednesday, and Winston was placed on administrative leave. Winston has served 28 years on the police force.

An email from Milwaukee police received at 4:57 p.m. Wednesday said an investigation had found Winston fit for duty. A second email received at 8:22 p.m. Wednesday revealed the internal investigation and the actions against Winston.

While the investigation is under way, command of the department's Professional Standards Bureau has been assigned to Assistant Chief John Hagen.

Police did not say exactly why Winston was suspended or what launched the internal investigation.