The Karen Read Trial's Disgraced State Trooper Michael Proctor Has Finally Given Up Trying to Get His Job Back
How you viewed the murder trial of the Masshole Century, The Commonwealth v Karen Read depended almost entirely on what you thought of lead investigator Michael Proctor, formerly of the MA State Police. To some, he was a dedicated law enforcement officer doing thorough forensics work that proved to their satisfaction Karen Read intentionally slammed her SUV into reverse to murder her boyfriend, Boston PD Officer John O'Keefe. To others, he made a few mistakes with regards to his methods, that may have cost the state a conviction. To a large segment of the population that Proctor called "just the loud minority" in this 20/20 interview, he was Lex Luthor with a badge. A bald, evil mastermind who railroaded Read in order to protect whoever was inside the house at 34 Fairview in Canton that night, from whatever went on in that house at 34 Fairview in Canton that night.
Regardless, the few facts that are not indispute is that he sent texts to a group of other assorted law enforcement figures:
... saying Read was his only suspect:
He also got contacted by a family member of the people in that house who (in my opinion) should have been Persons of Interest in the matter, offering to buy him "a thank you gift" for showing no Interest in the Persons. And Proctor's response wasn't, "Please to do NOT do this. I would be unethical. And I not only cannot accept a this gift, I will have to report this offer to my superiors." But instead told her to get one for his wife instead.
But what we can all agree on is that the text to that group of LEOs where he talked about Read's "leaky balloon knot" that "leaks poo," called her "a whackjob cunt," "retarded, "nutbag as Chief would say," and suggested it would be best for everyone if she just killed herself, was THE "Stop the Presses" moment of the first trial,
And cost him his job.
But if there's one thing you learn quickly when you pay attention to how things work in the Commonwealth, not one is ever truly gone from state employment if they're willing to wait long enough and fight hard enough to get their job back. Which Proctor has been doing. And he had a greater than zero chance of getting back on the force.
Until today, that is:
Boston Herald - Disgraced ex-Mass State Police Trooper Michael Proctor is not getting his job back.
Proctor has dropped his appeal with the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission. The lead investigator into the death of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe was fired from MSP for his “sexist” behavior regarding then-murder suspect Karen Read.
“This notice confirms the withdrawal of my appeal in the above referenced matter,” reads Proctor’s withdrawal of his appeal.
“I exercise my right to sign this form of my own free will,” Proctor added. …
Proctor withdrew his appeal amid the Brian Walshe murder case, as the Norfolk DA’s office last week said they’re trying to get texts and other data from Proctor’s phone.
Defense attorneys have been fighting for Proctor’s texts, which they say could contain important evidence that could clear their clients.
Without getting too deep in the weeds on the Brian Walshe case, he's accused of brutally murdering his wife Ana at their home in Cohasset, one of the wealthiest towns in the state and also part of Norfolk County (even though it's located within Plymouth County, which is a whole other matter entirely). So the investigation also involved Proctor. So now the defense lawyers want access to all his communications. And the prosecution has no desire to call Proctor as a witness.
In other words, Proctor's involvement in this and some other high-profile criminal cases are what lawyers call "fruit of the poison tree." He's a liability to the state. His fingerprints on any investigation are the best thing that could happen to the accused. And whether you think he's just a dummy who joked around with friends like we all do except he got caught, or he's crookeder than a dog's hind leg and covered up for actual murderers, you can still appreciate that he has no business being anywhere around actual police work.
It seems like he finally realized that. Or he just didn't want a repeat of that scene where he was forced by Judge Cannone to read the texts out loud like kid getting caught passing notes in school. No matter how sweet a gig it is working for the MSP, Proctor had his shot, and he blew it.
Still, here's hoping he does take the stand again. That was the best entertainment we had in this state in 2024. This Walshe trial could be the encore we never got in the Read retrial.