TROY — A Rensselaer police officer was charged early Thursday with drunken driving after tests showed him to be nearly three times over the legal limit when he crashed his luxury car into a water tank at a construction site, police said.

Daniel Fumarola, 42, of Wynantskill refused an alcohol breath test at the scene of the accident at 11:22 p.m. Wednesday at Pawling Avenue and Congress Street.

"He came in today and I took his badge, ID and gun," Rensselaer Police Chief Rick Fusco said.

Fumarola has served as a city police officer for 13 years and is a former city Police Benevolent Association president.

He will be suspended without pay for 30 days on administrative leave and then be returned to the payroll — but not to work — as his case progresses.

"He's been a good cop but I will be recommending that he be terminated," Fusco said. "My people know we have a zero-tolerance alcohol policy here. An officer who drives drunk should not be an officer."

Troy police records show a chemical test administered at 1:49 a.m. at the police department showed Fumarola had a blood alcohol content of 0.23 percent, almost three times the legal limit for driving while intoxicated.

Police said Fumarola was alone in the car, a black 2011 BMW. He was not injured.

He told police he was on his way home after drinking at the Emerald Club tavern, 374 Congress St., a short distance from the accident scene.

Fumarola was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated and failure to submit to a breath test.

Fumarola was arraigned Thursday morning in city court. He is scheduled to reappear Oct. 4.

"I am very sad that this occurred but very grateful no one was injured," Fusco said.

kcrowe@timesunion.com • 518-454-5084 • @KennethCrowe