James S. Doran resigns as a Massachusetts State Police officer after OUI charge

A rookie state trooper resigned Wednesday following his off-duty arrest for allegedly driving under the influence and rear-ending another vehicle in Tewksbury, an agency spokesman said.

James S. Doran, 28, was arrested on Sunday after he crashed into the back of another vehicle near the intersection of Main Street and Clark Road at 11:12 p.m., authorities said.

Tewksbury police said the driver and passenger of the car that struck Doran were taken to a local hospital. They also said there were open containers of alcohol in Doran’s car.

Doran graduated from the State Police Academy on Oct. 9 and had just begun a year’s probation, state police said.

Doran’s resignation took effect Wednesday and will not be eligible for reinstatement, an agency spokesman said.

According to department policy, a member who has been dismissed after being charged with a criminal offense is not eligible for reinstatement.

The agency intends to report Doran’s misconduct to the Massachusetts Commission on Peace Officer Training and Standards, a spokesman said.

After the accident, the police “noticed that Doran was allegedly unsteady on his feet, slurred his speech and smelled of alcohol. Police also found open containers of alcohol in the vehicle,” the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

Prosecutors said Doran was charged with having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle.

Doran was arraigned Monday in Lowell District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to operating while intoxicated and an open container violation. He was released on personal recognizance and ordered to surrender his license and not drink alcohol, the prosecutor’s office said.

Tonya Alanez can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her @talanez.