BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – A Birmingham police officer charged with drug possession is on paid administrative leave as an internal investigation proceeds, spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards said at a news conference.

Kenneth Martez Padgett, 28, of Birmingham, was arrested at 9 p.m. Monday and charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of controlled substance. He remains in the Jefferson County jail on bonds totaling $30,000.

Padgett had worked as a Birmingham police officer for six years. At the time of his arrest, he was a patrol officer in the East Precinct.

He remains on paid leave as both an internal investigation and a criminal investigation are conducted.

Investigators received information about Padgett's alleged involvement in illegal narcotic activity. An internal investigation was launched, and detectives confirmed the information, Edwards said.

Kenneth Padgett

Investigators have not yet determined how long Padgett had been involved in illegal drug activity, or how he acquired the drugs in his possession, Edwards said.

Investigators will look at Padgett's roles and duties within the department, including looking into cases he was involved in as an officer.

Officers throughout the department, led by Chief A.C. Roper, take police work seriously and understand that it requires great professionalism, Edwards said.

"From time to time, someone makes a decision to cross to the other side and, when that happens, the sad part is they violate the very law they took an oath to uphold," he said. "They forfeit their right to be a police officer, and they tarnish the badge."