By Charlie McKenna
masslive.com
BOSTON — Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the Karen Read case, was terminated from his position as a Massachusetts State Police trooper, the agency announced Wednesday morning.
Proctor’s termination comes after he testified during Read’s trial last year about sending derogatory text messages about her, calling her a “whack job” and saying he wished she would kill herself.
A State Police Trial Board, after three full days of hearings between January and March, found Proctor guilty of violating two State Police regulations: unsatisfactory performance and alcoholic beverages.
Col. Geoffrey Noble accepted the board’s recommendation to terminate Proctor.
The unsatisfactory performance charge is directly tied to the Read investigation. The trial board found Proctor sent “derogatory, defamatory, disparaging and/or otherwise inappropriate text messages” about Read to other individuals.
The board also found Proctor provided “sensitive and/or confidential information” about Read, potential witnesses, and/or potential investigative steps in the case to non-law enforcement personnel.
During Read’s trial, he testified about texting his sister and friends from high school about the investigation during its early stages.
The alcoholic beverages violation is tied to a cold case investigation on Cape Cod, during which Proctor and a Canton Police detective got drinks.
“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.”
Proctor can appeal the decision to the Civil Service Commission.
In a statement, Proctor’s family said they were “truly disappointed” by the board’s decision.
“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 ... are all that they found,” the family said.
“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,” they continued.
State Police regulations require members to “perform their duties in such a manner as will maintain the highest professionally accepted performance standards in carrying out the functions and objectives of the State Police ,” according to the department’s rules and regulations.
Unsatisfactory performance can also include “failure to conform to work standards.”
The regulations also bar members from drinking alcohol on duty.
Read is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston Police officer John O’Keefe. Her second trial is scheduled to begin April 1.
Proctor’s termination is likely to have impacts beyond Read’s second trial next month. Attorneys for at least four clients whose cases involved Proctor received letters informing them of his then-pending discipline.
Among them are attorneys for Brian Walshe, who is charged with killing his wife, Ana, in 2023. Proctor was the lead investigator into her disappearance.
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