State Trooper Michael Proctor was the lead investigator looking into Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe's death. His girlfriend, Karen Read, was accused of hitting O'Keefe with her car and leaving him to die.Photo: WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Massachusetts State Police superintendent spoke on their decision to relieve Trooper Michael Proctor of duty after offensive texts and comments surfaced during the Karen Read murder trial.
On Monday, State Police released a statement from Interim Superintendent Colonel John Mawn, saying that Proctor had been relieved of duty.
State Police later clarified that “although Trooper Proctor is still employed by the Department, the decision to relieve him of duty means that he can no longer work cases or function as a trooper during this time.”
That announcement came just hours after Judge Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial in the weeks-long Karen Read murder trial.
Proctor is the former lead investigator in Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe’s death.
His girlfriend, Karen Read, was accused of second-degree murder and other charges after allegedly hitting O’Keefe with her car and leaving him to die in the snow in January 2022.
During the trial, evidence came to light about derogatory and explicit comments and texts made by Proctor about Read, which he admitted were unprofessional and inappropriate.
Mawn spoke to reporters on Tuesday during a public safety press conference about 4th of July celebration plans, and he answered questions about the police’s recent decision about Proctor.
“There is a process that needs to occur. Right now, there is an open internal affairs investigation that requires some due diligence on our part,” he said.
“A lot of the process in the Mass. State Police is dictated by policy, by rules and regulations, by collective bargaining agreement. So we’re going to follow that process, and we’ll come to a conclusion when we have all of the information, and we’ve made sure that we’ve done this in a procedurally correct way.”
Mawn is facing calls to fire Proctor over offensive comments and texts he made about Read.
“I want to remain very clear: this conduct in any way, shape, or form of the Massachusetts State Police will not be tolerated. I condemn those comments in the strongest terms possible. They are not reflective of the Massachusetts State Police."
Asked if the police were aware of Proctor’s behavior before the trial and if so, why action wasn’t taken sooner, Mawn said, “We monitored the criminal trial in an effort to get as much information as possible as it may or may not reflect on the Massachusetts State Police and their conduct, and we wanted to make sure we had all of that before we made a decision.”
He added, “We also wanted to respect the trial process, and we want to be mindful of the ongoing internal affairs investigation.”
Mawn said they are “hyper-focused” on ensuring actions like this do not happen going forward, particularly through focusing on the following areas: community trust, legitimacy, and engagement; diversity; culture (both externally and internally); training; leadership and wellness; and media and public relations.
WBZ NewsRadio's Mike Macklin reports.
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