A Massachusetts State Police trooper involved in the investigation of the Karen Read case has been fired following the revelation of his inappropriate messages about the suspect during the trial. Michael Proctor, who was leading the investigation, was dismissed less than a year after these messages came to light.
The controversy arose during Read’s trial, concerning the death of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer. O’Keefe was found injured and bloodied in the snow in Canton, Massachusetts, on January 29, 2022. Read’s defense team argued that she had been framed for his murder.
The trial ended in a mistrial on July 1, 2022, when the jury could not reach a unanimous decision on whether Read had accidentally run over O’Keefe while under the influence. She is scheduled for a retrial in April.
During the proceedings, Read’s attorneys exposed Proctor’s derogatory remarks made to other officers, including calling Read names like “whack-job” and using vulgar terms. His messages included a disturbing comment to a family member, where he expressed a wish for Read to take her own life.
After the trial concluded, Proctor was removed from duty and was later suspended without pay. The Massachusetts State Police announced his dismissal as a result of a “dishonorable discharge.”
Colonel Geoffrey Noble of the Massachusetts State Police emphasized the importance of maintaining public trust through professionalism and integrity, highlighting that it is vital for officers to be held accountable for their actions.
Currently, the Massachusetts State Police have not provided any further comments, and attempts to reach Proctor have been unsuccessful.
