Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the Karen Read murder case, whose testimony revealed highly derogatory text messages about Read, has been suspended without pay following a duty status hearing on Monday.
Proctor was relieved of duty and transferred last week, hours after the Read murder case resulted in a mistrial. After he was relieved of duty, Proctor was required to turn in his cruiser, gun, and other police gear, but he was still collecting a paycheck. State Police transferred Proctor from the detective unit assigned to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted Read’s case, to the field services division of Troop H. However, because he had turned in his equipment, Proctor was unable to function as a State Trooper.
Proctor’s testimony revealed text messages sent to friends, family members, and colleagues, where he referred to Read in highly derogatory terms, including calling her a “c*nt” and a “nut bag” with a “leaky balloon knot,” making light of her Crohn’s disease. He also joked about looking for nude photos on her phone and said he hoped she’d kill herself.
More: Trooper Michael Proctor relieved of duty and transferred after mistrial in Karen Read case
The decision to suspend Proctor was made by Interim Police Superintendent Colonel John Mawn during the duty status hearing on Monday, July 8, 2024. According to a State Police representative, during the hearing, the duty status hearing board, comprised of three commissioned officers, recommended to Col. Mawn that Proctor be suspended without pay after reviewing the evidence. Col. Mawn accepted their recommendation.
The internal affairs investigation into Proctor is still ongoing.
