Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor has been officially fired, the State Police announced Wednesday, following an internal investigation into misconduct related to his handling of the Karen Read murder case. The decision, made by State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble, was based on a trial board recommendation that found Proctor guilty of unsatisfactory performance and consuming alcohol while on duty.
State Police Statement on Termination
In a statement, Col. Noble emphasized that the termination was necessary to uphold the integrity of the department.
“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.”
Noble added that his decision followed a “thorough, fair, and impartial process,” and that he had considered the impact of Proctor’s conduct on investigative integrity and the department’s reputation.
“This decision reflects our unwavering commitment to upholding our values, enhancing public trust, and ensuring the highest standards of service and accountability,” he said.
Noble also acknowledged the impact the situation has had on the family of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, the victim in the Karen Read case, saying, “I would also like to renew our condolences to them.”
Proctor and His Defense Team Respond
Michael Proctor’s attorney, Daniel Moynihan, denounced the firing, alleging that State Police had predetermined the decision months ago.
“Michael Proctor has served the Mass State Police as an exemplary Trooper for the past 12 years. Until this Order of Termination by the Department, he has never been disciplined in any manner,” Moynihan said. Later adding, “Michael Proctor has never denied that he sent derogatory and vulgar text messages in private conversations with personal friends. He does deny, however, that his investigation in this case was compromised in any way and the testimony at the recent Trial Board by commissioned officers of the Department confirmed that fact.”
Moynihan indicated that Proctor plans to appeal the decision before the state’s Civil Service Commission, arguing that his client did not receive due process.
Proctor’s Family and Police Union Reaction
Proctor’s family released a statement expressing their disappointment, calling the trial board’s decision unprecedented and unjust.
“The messages prove one thing: 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 said.
The State Police Association of Massachusetts (SPAM) also criticized the decision, with union president Brian Williams arguing that Proctor was being sacrificed to appease public pressure.
“The Department’s decision to sacrifice Trooper Proctor to appease the media rather than making a decision based on the facts and evidence presented during the trial board is disappointing but not surprising,” Williams said. He added that while Proctor’s texts were inappropriate, the punishment was excessive.
“Trooper Proctor has taken responsibility for the language used and comments made while under the stress and emotions that come with a homicide investigation,” Williams said. “Unfortunately, the decision to terminate was guided by expedience, the relentless drumbeat of conspiracy theorists and the intense glare of the media spotlight. Sadly, in the end it was easier for the Department to terminate Michael Proctor than it was for them to stand tall and face the critics.”
Impact on the Karen Read Case
Michael Proctor served as the lead investigator in the case against Karen Read, who is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, by allegedly striking him with her SUV outside a Canton home in January 2022. The incident occurred outside the residence of fellow officer Brian Albert, where O’Keefe was found unresponsive in the snow.
Read’s defense team contends that she was framed as part of a law enforcement cover-up to protect the real perpetrators. They suggest that O’Keefe was beaten inside Albert’s house and then left outside to die in the snow. As part of their claims of investigative misconduct, the defense alleges that Proctor planted broken taillight pieces at the scene to implicate Read.
The defense also highlights Proctor’s close relationships with the Albert family, suggesting bias and a conflict of interest that may have compromised the investigation. Additionally, they point to Proctor’s inappropriate text messages about Read, which have raised questions about his professionalism and objectivity.
As Read’s April 1, 2025, retrial nears, Proctor’s firing has placed renewed focus on the investigation’s integrity, the credibility of the State Police’s involvement, and its potential impact on her ability to receive a fair trial.
