Trooper Michael Proctor fired for conduct during Karen Read case

Disgraced Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, who rose to infamy over his handling of the Karen Read murder case, has been fired, the agency announced Wednesday. 

State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble terminated Proctor at the recommendation of a trial board, which found him guilty of unsatisfactory performance and consuming alcohol while on duty. Noble’s personnel order specifically points to Proctor’s conduct as lead investigator on Read’s case, particularly the vulgar texts he sent to family, friends, and coworkers about the defendant. 

“My decision to terminate Mr. Proctor follows a thorough, fair, and impartial process,” Noble said in a statement. “I have weighed the nature of the offenses, their impact on our investigative integrity, and the importance of safeguarding the reputations of our dedicated women and men in the State Police. This decision reflects our unwavering commitment to upholding our values, enhancing public trust and ensuring the highest standards of service and accountability.”

State Police relieved Proctor of duty soon after Read’s first murder trial ended in a mistrial July 1. He was ultimately suspended without pay as the agency continued its internal affairs investigation into allegations of misconduct. 

Trial board decisions can be appealed to the state’s Civil Service Commission, though State Police have expressed confidence there was sufficient evidence to warrant Proctor’s termination. The State Police Association of Massachusetts did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. 

What did Proctor do? 

Proctor’s texts about Read cast a pall over the trial last summer, and he admitted he “dehumanized” the defendant in calling her a “wack job c**t” and “retarded” and making crass remarks about her appearance and Crohn’s disease. In other messages, Proctor told his sister he hoped Read would kill herself and joked to State Police colleagues about looking for nude photos on Read’s phone. 

The former trooper’s “derogatory, defamatory, disparaging, and/or otherwise inappropriate” texts amounted to misconduct, and he “created an image that he was biased in his dealings with a homicide suspect and/or brought otherwise himself and the Massachusetts State Police into disrepute,” according to Noble’s personnel order.

Two of Proctor’s superiors, Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik and Detective Lt. Brian Tully, were previously disciplined after internal probes determined they failed to reprimand Proctor for his texts. Tully, who previously led the State Police detective unit in the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office, forfeited six vacation days and was transferred out of the office. Bukhenik forfeited five vacation days.

Proctor also provided civilians “sensitive and/or confidential information about a homicide victim, potential witnesses, and/or potential investigative steps in the investigation,” Noble wrote.

Read, 45, is accused of drunkenly and deliberately backing her SUV into her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, while dropping him off at a house party in Canton on Jan. 29, 2022. Her lawyers contend she was framed in a vast law enforcement conspiracy and allege Proctor played a role in the coverup. The former trooper has come under fire for his previously undisclosed ties to the Alberts, the locally connected family who owned the home where O’Keefe was found unresponsive in the snow.

Taking the stand in Read’s trial last summer, Proctor acknowledged he “had a few beers” with homeowner Brian Albert’s brother, Canton Police Detective Kevin Albert, while the pair investigated a cold case together on Cape Cod in July 2022. Kevin Albert was disciplined last fall for drinking on the job with Proctor. 

Noble’s order notes Proctor operated his department-issued cruiser after drinking on duty. 

“Our mission to deliver the highest level of police services depends on the public’s trust in our professionalism and integrity,” Noble said. “It is incumbent upon me, as well as every member of this Department, to hold one another accountable when any member compromises our mission by failing to uphold our values.”

He added: “Finally, recognizing the ways in which this process has affected the family of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, I would also like to renew our condolences to them.”

Proctor’s family issues statement on firing

Proctor’s family released a statement Wednesday expressing their disappointment in his firing and defending his work on the Read case. 

“We are truly disappointed with the trial board’s decision as it lacks precedent, and unfairly exploits and scapegoats one of their own, a trooper with a 12-year unblemished record,” the family said. “Despite the Massachusetts State Police’s dubious and relentless efforts to find more inculpatory evidence against Michael Proctor on his phones, computers and cruiser data, the messages on his personal phone — referring to the person who killed a fellow beloved Boston Police Officer — are all that they found.”

The texts prove one thing, they said: “That Michael is human — not corrupt, not incompetent in his role as a homicide detective, and certainly not unfit to continue to be a Massachusetts State Trooper.”

Proctor’s wife and sister spoke out last week to defend the former trooper and highlight some of the harassment their family has purportedly faced since Read’s case became a national spectacle. 

“Proctor and his detectives led a meticulous and thorough investigation of integrity, and despite today’s wrongful termination, and great harm and defamation this case has inflicted on him and his family, Proctor still believes justice will be served,” his family said Wednesday. “He is grateful for the unrelenting support of the union and the men and women of the Massachusetts State Police. His heart is always with the family of Officer John O’Keefe who continue to endure a prolonged and unimaginable nightmare.”

Read Noble’s full statement:

“Our mission to deliver the highest level of police services depends on the public’s trust in our professionalism and integrity. It is incumbent upon me, as well as every member of this Department, to hold one another accountable when any member compromises our mission by failing to uphold our values.

“As Superintendent, my role demands that I do what is in the best interest of the Department. My decision to terminate Mr. Proctor follows a thorough, fair, and impartial process. I have weighed the nature of the offenses, their impact on our investigative integrity, and the importance of safeguarding the reputations of our dedicated women and men in the State Police. This decision reflects our unwavering commitment to upholding our values, enhancing public trust and ensuring the highest standards of service and accountability.

“Finally, recognizing the ways in which this process has affected the family of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, I would also like to renew our condolences to them.”

Read Michael Proctor’s family’s full statement:

“We are truly disappointed with the trial board’s decision as it lacks precedent, and unfairly exploits and scapegoats one of their own, a trooper with a 12-year unblemished record. Despite the Massachusetts State Police’s dubious and relentless efforts to find more inculpatory evidence against Michael Proctor on his phones, computers and cruiser data, the messages on his personal phone – referring to the person who killed a fellow beloved Boston Police Officer – are all that they found. The messages prove one thing, and that Michael is human – not corrupt, not incompetent in his role as a homicide detective, and certainly not unfit to continue to be a Massachusetts State Trooper.

“Proctor and his detectives led a meticulous and thorough investigation of integrity, and despite today’s wrongful termination, and great harm and defamation this case has inflicted on him and his family, Proctor still believes justice will be served. He is grateful for the unrelenting support of the union and the men and women of the Massachusetts State Police. His heart is always with the family of Officer John O’Keefe who continue to endure a prolonged and unimaginable nightmare.”

Read Noble’s full personnel order:

Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between.