FRAMINGHAM – Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctorwill sit before a trial council allegations of misconduct on Wednesday. Proctor, who was suspended in part because of text messages he sent while working as a lead investigator at the Karen Read casecould possibly lose his job after the hearing.
Trooper Michael Proctor misconduct hearing
After Read’s first trial ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury, so did Proctor suspended without pay on July 22, 2024.
Proctor will appear in court Wednesday to face what prosecutors in Read’s case described in a court filing as “allegations of misconduct in the performance of his duties as a uniformed member of the Massachusetts State Police.”
Proctor’s appointed probationary board consists of a captain and two lieutenants.
The court proceedings are not made public.
What happens during a trial committee hearing?
The hearing started around 10 a.m. and is expected to last until about 4 p.m
The proctor is represented by counsel and both parties have the opportunity to call witnesses.
The trial will take place at Massachusetts State Police headquarters in Framingham, with additional time allowed if necessary on February 10.
If the court acquits him, the proceedings end and Proctor is acquitted. If the board determines that Proctor is guilty of the charges, the decision will go to the colonel, who will make the final decision on his punishment.
Why was Michael Proctor suspended?
Read is accused of striking and killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV and leaving him in the snow outside a Canton home in 2022 after a night of heavy drinking.
Proctor was suspended in part because of text messages he sent on his personal cell phone to friends, family and coworkers.
In a post about Read, Proctor wrote “Hopefully she kills herself.” In another text he called Read a ‘whackjob’ [expletive]While on the stand, Proctor called the text messages “deplorable.”
The text messages from Proctor’s phone were obtained as part of a federal investigation by the Justice Department into O’Keefe’s death and subsequent investigation. Read claims she was framed by several people, including law enforcement officers.
The sentence also stemmed from an incident that came to light during the trial. Proctor allegedly drank with Kevin Albert while working a case and the next day Albert sent text messages in which he referred to leaving his gun and badge in Proctor’s cruiser. Kevin Albert is a friend and colleague of Proctor and his brother Brian Albert owned the house where O’Keefe’s body was found in the snow.
The two violations of department policy Proctor faces are alcoholic beverages in a Massachusetts State Police cruiser and unsatisfactory performance.
Read’s second trial, originally scheduled to begin on January 27, has been postponed until April 1.
