Officers Fired and Resign Over Misconduct in Read Investigation
Police investigator fired, sergeant resigned over disparaging and bigoted messages revealed in civil case.
Event / Security
Karen Read Civil Lawsuit
Karen Read, acquitted of murder charges in the 2022 death of Boston police officer John O'Keefe, filed a civil lawsuit against Massachusetts State Police and the Town of Canton alleging systemic bias and misconduct in their investigation. The case revealed racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic messages exchanged between law enforcement officers, leading to the firing and resignation of officers involved.
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 5 Jun, 03:01 UTC
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What happened
John O'Keefe died in January 2022 in Canton, Massachusetts
Boston police officer John O'Keefe died on January 29, 2022, after being found in the front yard of a home in Canton, Massachusetts. He was discovered following a night of bar-hopping. The circumstances of his death became the subject of criminal charges against Karen Read and subsequent litigation.
Sean Goode's text messages referenced anti-Semitic and misogynistic sentiments
Court documents revealed that former Canton Police Sergeant Sean Goode sent text messages containing anti-Semitic remarks about Karen Read, calling her a slur and suggesting she engaged in sexual conduct. His messages also derided Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and made derogatory comments about female suspects and victims.
Karen Read acquitted of murder charges in John O'Keefe death case
Karen Read was acquitted of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene after an accident resulting in death in connection with the 2022 death of Boston police officer John O'Keefe. She was found guilty only of operating under the influence of liquor and sentenced to one year probation. Her first trial ended in a hung jury before the acquittal in her second trial.
Massachusetts State Police Colonel condemns Proctor's messages as inconsistent with values
Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble released a statement on the day of the lawsuit filing condemning the racist, sexist and abhorrent comments made by Michael Proctor as entirely inconsistent with basic standards of decency and the expectations of a Massachusetts State Trooper, and stated they do not reflect the values of the State Police.
Canton Police Sergeant Sean Goode resigns following misconduct investigation
Former Canton Police Sergeant Sean Goode resigned from the Canton Police Department following an investigation into alleged misconduct. Goode had been placed on leave in October 2024. The resignation came days after his involvement in the Karen Read case was scrutinized.
Former State Trooper Michael Proctor fired for disparaging messages about Karen Read
Former Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor was terminated from his position in March 2025 after text messages he sent about Karen Read were read during her first trial. The messages included crude and misogynistic language referring to Read as a retarded whack job and other expletive-laden insults.
Investigator Michael Proctor's bigoted text messages revealed in court documents
Court documents obtained by the media revealed years of private text correspondence between former State Trooper Michael Proctor and former Canton Police Sergeant Sean Goode. The messages contained racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic language. Proctor's messages included anti-Black slurs and crude references to women, some dating back over a decade to when he was seeking employment with the Boston Police Department.
Karen Read files civil lawsuit against Massachusetts State Police and Canton Police
Karen Read filed an 87-page lawsuit in Bristol Superior Court against the Town of Canton and Massachusetts State Police, alleging mishandling of the investigation into John O'Keefe's death. The lawsuit alleges an embedded culture of bigotry, misogyny, systemic failures, and institutional rot within both organizations.
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2 alternative perspectives
Read Acquitted, Now Pursues Civil Action Against Police Departments
Acquitted Karen Read now sues Massachusetts State Police and Canton Police civilly.