Off-duty state trooper charged with drunken driving in West Brookfield — for second time
A state trooper charged with drunken driving in West Brookfield two weeks ago, his second such charge in less than two years, was reassigned to administrative duty Tuesday, according to the state police.
State police Sgt. Todd Girouard, most recently in the Hampden County detective unit, was transferred to a restricted-duty role in Troop C, which covers Central Massachusetts. Girouard is without his state police firearm and vehicle, and he is restricted from workplace contact with the public, according to the state police. He will continue to be paid.
The job transfer was prompted by a charge of drunken driving issued by West Brookfield police Jan. 12, according to the state police. Girouard was off duty.
Girouard, 51, is familiar to West Brookfield police. On Aug. 21, 2022, officers from the town responded to a 1 a.m. report of a man sleeping in a car parked in a driveway. According to court records, the occupant of the vehicle was identified as Girouard, then off duty. He was eventually awakened by the officers and was determined to be intoxicated, court records show. He was charged with drunken driving.
He declined to take a chemical test. He was soon placed on restricted duty.
In a bench trial before Judge Timothy Bibaud, on May 3, 2023, Girouard was found not guilty of drunken driving.
In the lastest arrest, Girouard was pulled over after dispatchers received a report of an "erratic operator" in nearby Hardwick, according to a police report filed in the Western Worcester District Court in East Brookfield.
West Brookfield Officer Serenity Allen soon spotted a car matching the description of the vehicle. A traffic stop was made on Boston Post Road.
As she approached the pulled-over vehicle, Allen recognized the driver as Girouard, a "close acquaintance," she wrote in her report, in which she referred to the suspect as Todd.
Girouard told her he'd had "two" drinks and was headed to a friend's house in Warren, the report states. Allen said he had glassy eyes but no noticeable slur in his speech.
A second officer arrived. Allen noted that her body camera was not working, but that the camera of the other officer was activated, according to the report.
Girouard agreed to a series of field sobriety tests, at one point telling the officers that he had troubled knees, the report states.
Citing failed sobriety tests and the odor of alcohol and Girouard's glassy eyes, the officers arrested Girouard for drunken driving. His vehicle was towed from the scene, according to Allen's report.
His booking took place at the state police barracks in Brookfield, where Girouard declined to take a chemical test, court records show.
He was arraigned in Western Worcester Court Jan. 16, with a not guilty plea entered. He was released on personal recognizance.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Massachusetts State Trooper Todd Girouard charged with OUI in W. Brookfield
