Massachusetts State Police relieve lead investigator of duty following Read mistrial

DEDHAM, Mass. (WLNE) — Massachusetts State Police said Monday that Trooper Michael Proctor was relieved of duty following the Karen Read mistrial.

Officials said Proctor, the top investigator in the case, would be formally transferred out of the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office State Police Detective’s Unit.

Proctor, who was questioned over inappropriate texts, had acknowledged to the jury that he called Read a series of names including “wack job” in texts to friends, family and fellow troopers.

“Our focus remains on delivering the highest level of police services with professionalism and integrity,” Massachusetts State Police Colonel John Mawn said in a statement.

Police previously opened an internal affairs investigation after information about serious misconduct emerged in testimony at the trial, the statement said.

Authorities said, that while 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.

Colonel Mawn issued the following statement, in part, regarding the mistrial:

“Following the mistrial in Commonwealth v. Karen Read, the Massachusetts State Police would like to offer our condolences again to the family of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. We cannot imagine the way in which this result has heightened the O’Keefe family’s immeasurable grief, heartache, and sense of loss. John lived a life of honorable service – both to the City of Boston and the children entrusted to his care after the unexpected death of his sister and brother-in-law. We will remember him.”

Read is accused of killing O’Keefe by hitting him with her SUV and leaving him in a snowstorm outside of a Canton home in January 2022.

The Norfolk County District Attorney announced Monday that the Commonwealth plans to re-try the case.