LOWELL, MASS. (WHDH) - Massachusetts leaders including Gov. Maura Healey and State Police Interim Superintendent Col. John Mawn faced questions about state police Trooper Michael Proctor Tuesday, one day after the Karen Read murder trial ended in a mistrial.
Proctor was the lead investigator in the Read case and testified for the prosecution in early June.
While on the witness stand, he revealed graphic text messages he sent about Read during the investigation.
Proctor said the texts were “unprofessional and regrettable.” After jurors failed to reach a verdict, Mawn on Monday announced Proctor would be relieved of duty and formally transferred out of his post within the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office State Police Detective Unit.
Mawn said an internal affairs investigation into Proctor was ongoing. It also became clear during the trial that a federal probe is underway examining the Read investigation.
Though Proctor is still employed by the state police, a spokesperson said the decision to relieve him of duty means he will no longer be working cases or serving as a state police trooper.
“The important piece for us was to continuously monitor the trial, to take the information provided during the pendency of that trial in house in order to make the decisions that we made,” Mawn said.
Healey weighed in on Proctor’s texts after his testimony last month, calling his actions “completely unprofessional.”
Speaking with reporters at an event in Lowell on Tuesday, Healey said “There’s no tolerance for that behavior” from people working in law enforcement or other public service jobs.
“I’ve been clear about that kind of language and certainly we expect nothing but professionalism from those who serve, not just in law enforcement, but across the public sector,” Healey said.
Prosecutors said Read hit her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, with her car and leaving him to die outside the Canton home of Brian and Nicole Albert on a snowy morning in January 2022.
The defense disagreed, saying O’Keefe actually died after a fight inside the Albert home. Read’s attorneys said she was framed and alleged a law enforcement cover up spanning multiple agencies.
Read’s trial began in late April and continued for more than two months before Monday’s mistrial declaration.
Jurors heard from more than 70 witnesses and saw more than 600 pieces of evidence throughout testimony. But, in a note to Judge Beverly Cannone Monday afternoon, the jury said it remained split, unable to reach a unanimous guilty or not guilty verdict.
Read’s attorneys spoke outside Norfolk Superior Court Monday, with attorney Alan Jackson saying the state failed in its prosecution of Read.
Jackson and co-counsel David Yannetti vowed to continue fighting on behalf of Read.
The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office in a separate statement said it plans to re-try Read.
Read and attorneys in the case are due back in court on July 22 for a status hearing.
There was no word as of Tuesday afternoon on when Proctor’s disciplinary hearing will happen in relation to his internal affairs investigation. One possible outcome of such a hearing could be a suspension without pay.
(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)