DENVER (CBS4) – CBS4 has learned that a Denver Public Safety cadet has been placed on leave and is the subject of an investigation after the cadet was accused of making an unauthorized traffic stop Thursday morning on Interstate 25.

“An incident did occur involving a traffic stop and a cadet is under investigation,” said a spokesperson for Denver’s Manager of Safety, the office that oversees the cadet program.

“Cadets are not supposed to take police actions and we’re investigating if this one did,” said the spokesperson.

Sources told CBS4 the 20-year-old cadet was driving a marked Denver police cruiser on I-25 Thursday when he pulled over a motorist. It turned out the driver who was pulled over is an investigator for the Denver District Attorney’s Office and later reported the improper stop.

There are 36 Denver Public Safety cadets who are paid an annual average salary of $17,623 and who have their education costs defrayed as well. They are in training to become Denver police officers, firefighters and deputy sheriffs. But they do not have police authority. The program is budgeted at $975,762 for 2012.

The Manager of Safety’s Office declined to identify the male cadet, but several sources tell CBS4 the cadet is related to a former Denver Police officer.

- Written by Brian Maass for CBSDenver.com