Gainesville Police Department Officer Patrick Hopkins has been suspended with pay and is under investigation on allegations of aggravated assault, stalking and false imprisonment, according to a statement from GPD.

"GPD is aware of an open criminal investigation being conducted by the Alachua County Sheriff's Office"," the statement read from spokesman Ben Tobias, and GPD's Internal Affairs Division will open an internal inquiry.

Hopkins, who has been with GPD since he was sworn in as an officer in April 2013, will remain on suspension through the duration of both the criminal and internal investigations, according to GPD.

In January 2017, Hopkins was awarded a Carnegie Media for fire rescue for his involvement in rescuing a local woman during a house fire. Hopkins was one of 93 people in the United States and Canada to have received the medal in 2016 and was the first GPD officer to receive the award.

Hopkins has most recently been assigned to GPD's K-9 Unit.