Michael Proctor, the Massachusetts State trooper who led the investigation in the murder case against Karen Read, has been removed from his position following allegations of misconduct.
Proctor was accused of tampering with evidence in the investigation of the death of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, as well as sending sexist and offensive messages about Read.
After Read’s trial ended in a mistrial on Monday, Proctor was quickly relieved of duty.
O’Keefe
AP Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe.
The state police “took immediate action to relieve” him, Colonel John E. Mawn, Jr. said in a statement Monday night.
“This follows our previous decision to open an internal affairs investigation after information about serious misconduct emerged in testimony at the trial,” Mawn said. “This investigation is ongoing.”
During Read’s trial, her attorneys alleged Proctor manipulated evidence against Read and failed to fully investigate O’Keefe’s death.
The police officer was found dead outside a colleague’s home in Canton, Mass. on Jan. 29, 2022. Read was accused of leaving the house party and drunkenly running O’Keefe over before fleeing the scene.
She was charged with second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter and other crimes.
Read’s attorneys theorized O’Keefe was killed inside the home for unknown reasons and dumped outside in the show as part of a vast coverup in order to frame Read.
The defense theorized that Proctor failed to look at other suspects due to his personal relationships with them — including recently retired Boston officer Brian Albert, who lived in the home where the party occurred.
In his own testimony, Proctor admitted to sending vulgar text messages about Read and the case to other state troopers.
Immediately after the mistrial was declared, the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office announced it planned to refile charges against Read.
“Regarding Trooper Michael Proctor being relieved of duty, conduct has consequences,” Read’s attorneys said in a statement to NBC Boston Monday night. “DA [Michael] Morrissey backed this misogynist corrupt cop, and two hours after he announced he will pursue a second trial against an innocent woman Karen Read, The Massachusetts State Police announced that Michael Proctor the lead investigator for the Commonwealth has been relieved of duty ‘because of serious misconduct that emerged in testimony at the trial.’ We look forward to another opportunity to reveal the truth about this unjust prosecution.”
Gov. Maura Healey said Tuesday the state police “made the right decision” to relieve Proctor but did not say whether his superiors should also face discipline.
“As you know, it’s under internal investigation, and that process will have to go forward,” Healy said. “This was the right move to remove him. This is a process. We have to wait for that process to go forward.”
