Newly appointed Massachusetts police officer resigns after OUI charges

James Doran’s attorney said there would be a hearing, but the soldier “decided it would be more appropriate for him to simply resign.”

State Police Graduation Ceremony on October 21, 2021 at the DCU Center in Worcester. David Ryan/The Boston Globe

A recently graduated Massachusetts police officer charged with alleged case of drunk driving in Tewksbury has resigned from the agency, officials said.

James Doran, 27, resigned as a police officer on Wednesday, a State Police spokesman told Boston.com. According to the State Police, when a soldier is discharged after criminal charges, he is not eligible for reinstatement politicians.

Spokesman Tim McGurk said the breach will also be reported in Massachusetts Commission on Standards and Training of Peacekeepersstatewide police oversight group.

Doran’s attorney, Robert Normandin, said a hearing was going to be held to determine Doran’s status, but “he decided it would be more appropriate for him to simply resign.”

According to court records, Doran is charged with operating under the influence and having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. He pleaded not guilty to both charges on Monday.

“It’s unfortunate that this happened, but I believe that this case will be resolved in his favor, but that will be until a future court date,” Normandin told Boston.com. “The state will miss the services of a very talented soldier.”

Doran allegedly rear-ended another car around 11:00 p.m. Sunday night on Main Street in Tewksbury while he was off-duty, WBZ reported. He and his passenger were unsteady, had slurred speech and smelled of alcohol, police said.

The passenger initially claimed he had been driving, but Doran later admitted he had been driving after having a few drinks. He refused a breath test and field sobriety test, WBZ reported.

Doran graduated from the Massachusetts State Police Academy on Oct. 9 and, like all new police officers, was supposed to be on probation for the next year with the department. He worked at Leominster Barracks, WBZ reported. He was in the same class as Enrique Delgado-Garciawho died on September 13 after becoming unresponsive during training.

“Mass. The state police has clearly had a lot of challenges over the last few years and I don’t believe it could have been any different since he was new to the position,” Normandin said. “He is a very good person. I think he would make a great soldier.”

Molly Farrar is a general assignments correspondent for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime and more.

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