A Bedford police officer who joined the force in December, resigned after he was arrested and charged with operating under the influence after rearending a couple on a motorcycle in Manchester.

Alejandro Jaime, 36, of Hooksett was off-duty and driving down Tarrytown Road just south of Hanover Street on Thursday, June 12, when he ran into the motorcycle in front of him, said Manchester police Sgt. Maureen Tessier.

Bedford Police Chief David Bailey said Jaime tendered his resignation, along with his badge and gun, at the Bedford police station on Monday, June 16.

“We are grateful that no one was seriously injured in the accident. That charge will be adjudicated through the court system, just as it would for anyone else,” Bailey said during a press briefing on June 16.

The motorcycle driver, James McLaughlin, 30, and his wife and passenger, Taylor McLaughlin, 31, were thrown from the bike. Both were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, Tessier said, and were released shortly after.

Tessier would not comment on whether Jaime submitted to blood alcohol or field sobriety tests, but said Jaime was reportedly cooperative with arresting officers.

“We all from time to time make poor decisions and police officers are like anyone else, but we must be held to a higher standard and in my opinion, he did the right thing by resigning,” Bailey said.

Bedford police hired Jaime in December 2007, putting him through the police academy and training.

Jaime was still in field training and had not yet been out on patrol alone when the incident occurred.

Bailey said the Manchester Police Department contacted Bedford police as a courtesy immediately after the arrest.

Something like this has never happened in Bailey’s tenure as chief, he said.

“That’s a serious charge. It’s something that we enforce all the time,” Bailey said.

Jaime went through an intensive background check, a polygraph test and a psychological exam before being hired, as is customary for all police hires, and nothing alarming jumped out, said Bailey.

He pointed out that Jaime awaits his day in court, and is not yet convicted.

“We’ve got to remember that it’s an allegation,” said Bailey. “He has to face the system just like any other civilian.”

Currently, there are four openings, including one for Jaime’s position, in the Bedford department.

“I’m not happy. It’s an embarrassment,” said Bailey. “People make poor judgements, but again, we’re held to a higher standard.”

Jaime is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, June 25, to answer to the charge.

In an interview on his new job as a Bedford police officer back in March, just after he graduated from the police academy, Jaime said he was born in Columbia and moved to the United States in 1994. He worked at a Mexican restaurant before deciding to go into law enforcement and put his bilingual skills to good use, he said. “I want to make a difference in people’s lives and the community,” Jaime said at the time.