A Massachusetts State Police trooper whose admittedly “unprofessional” text messages took on a critical role in the murder trial of Karen Read, which ended in a mistrial on Monday, was relieved of his duty, acting State Police Colonel Jack Mawn announced.
Proctor, the lead investigator in Read’s case, will also be transferred out of the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office State Police Detective’s Unit, Mawn said in a statement late Monday. An investigation into “serious misconduct” by Proctor that “emerged in testimony at trial” is ongoing.
“Our focus remains on delivering the highest level of police services with professionalism and integrity,” Mawn said in the statement. “Although Trooper 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.”
During his testimony in the Read trial, Proctor admitted to sending text messages in which he described Read in a degrading manner, including telling his sister, “Hopefully she kills herself,” a reference to Read and calling her a “whack job.”
Proctor was relieved of duty effective immediately on Monday and will be removed from his position in the district attorney’s office on Sunday because State Police collective bargaining requires five-day notice for a change of assignment.
Read, 44, of Mansfield, was charged with the murder of her Boston police officer boyfriend John O’Keefe, 46. After five days of jury deliberations, Norfolk County Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial in Read’s case when jurors said they could not reach a verdict.
In the statement, Mawn remembered O’Keefe as a man who “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 cannot imagine the way in which this result has heightened the O’Keefe family’s immeasurable grief, heartache and sense of loss,” Mawn said.
