close
close
Disgraced police officer faces hearing next week

Disgraced police officer faces hearing next week


Local news

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor may face “permanent discipline” following a hearing next week, according to a new court filing.

Disgraced police officer faces hearing next week

Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor listens on the witness stand during Karen Read’s first murder trial in June 2024. Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool

Suspended for months after his vulgar texts appeared during karen readIn the first trial, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor could face “permanent disciplinary action” following a hearing next week, according to a new court filing.

The disgraced trooper will appear before a State Police trial board on Jan. 15 to answer “allegations of misconduct in the performance of his duties as a uniformed member of the Massachusetts State Police,” prosecutors in the Read case said. in a document filed Friday. The hearing will not be open to the public, according to State Police.

State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble can “immediately impose permanent discipline” if the hearing determines there are reasonable grounds to do so, according to the court document.

supervisor has been suspended without pay since July, days after Read’s first trial ended with a hung jury. She is charged in the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, who was found unconscious in the snow outside another Boston officer’s home in Canton in 2022. While prosecutors allege that Read, in drunk and deliberately ran her SUV into O’Keefe while dropping him off at a house party, her lawyers claim she was framed in a cover-up.

Proctor, the lead investigator on the case, took the stand during Read’s trial and was forced to read aloud his crude text messages about the accused. In messages to family, friends and co-workers, Proctor called Read a “wacko,” mocked his Crohn’s disease, joked about browsing his phone for nudes and said he I expected Read to commit suicide..

The state police launched a internal affairs investigation in Proctor last year, and the agency confirmed Monday that the investigation was concluded. Pursuant to a March court order, prosecutors told Read’s attorneys that they expect the State Police to turn over reports and records of Proctor’s discipline following the internal affairs investigation.

Proctor also participated in the investigation into Brian Walshe, the Cohasset man accused of killing and dismembering his wife, Ana, in 2023. However, prosecutors have said that I don’t plan to call Proctor. testify when Walshe heads to trial in October.

It is still unclear whether Proctor will testify when Read is tried again later this year.

Abby Patkin Profile Picture

Abby Patkin is a general news reporter whose work covers public transportation, crime, health, and everything in between.

Back To Top