Shivangi Sinha
The murder of former Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe and the investigation that followed in January 2022 created significant upheaval. The case deeply unsettled the community of Canton, Massachusetts, as serious allegations emerged involving several prominent figures connected to law enforcement. One of the most scrutinized individuals was Michael Proctor, the lead investigator, who faced backlash after private messages he had sent to friends and family were brought to light. These revelations raised concerns about the integrity of the investigation. Both NBC’s ‘Dateline: Center of the Storm’ and ABC’s episode of ’20/20′ titled ‘Karen Read: The Verdict’ explored the various aspects of the case in depth.
Michael Proctor’s Work as Lead Investigator Was Questioned by the Defense Team
In January 2022, Michael Proctor was serving as a Massachusetts State Trooper assigned to the Norfolk State Police Detective Unit. He had more than a decade-long tenure in law enforcement, and he was considered a dedicated professional and a respected member of both his department and the wider community. On the morning of January 29, 2022, he was appointed as the lead investigator in the case involving the death of John O’Keefe, a fellow Boston Police officer. O’Keefe had been discovered with severe injuries outside the home of Brian Albert, a retired Boston Police Sergeant, in Canton, Massachusetts.
During Karen Read’s first trial in March 2024, her defense team introduced evidence alleging serious misconduct by lead investigator Michael Proctor. They revealed that just 16 hours after the incident, Proctor had sent text messages to his sister and some high school friends in which he referred to Karen in derogatory terms and even mocked one of her health conditions. In those messages, he asserted that she wouldn’t be framed because she was guilty. The defense argued that Proctor’s close ties to Brian Albert (on whose property John O’Keefe was found) should have disqualified him from leading the investigation.
The defense further alleged that Proctor not only failed to disclose this relationship but also manipulated and planted evidence to incriminate Karen while shielding others. The defense also presented evidence that alleged that Proctor had consumed alcohol while on duty along with Kevin Albert, another police officer, and Brian’s brother. Additionally, the defense criticized the collection of evidence from the scene, calling it mishandled and unprofessional, and suggested that the investigation may have been intentionally compromised to cover for those truly responsible.
Michael Proctor is No Longer in the Massachusetts Police Department
Michael Proctor testified during Karen Read’s first trial, which began in April 2024. On the stand, he admitted that his messages about Karen were unprofessional but insisted they had no impact on the integrity of the investigation. However, after the trial concluded in June 2024, he was relieved of duty and formally removed from the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office State Police Detective Unit. Beginning in July 2024, Proctor was suspended without pay, pending the outcome of a trial board hearing.
In March 2025, following that internal investigation and hearing, the Massachusetts State Police concluded that Proctor had committed serious misconduct. He was dishonorably discharged from the force after being found guilty of two infractions: unsatisfactory performance and violating the department’s policy on alcoholic beverages. The presiding colonel emphasized in the ruling that he had improperly disclosed sensitive and potentially active investigative details to individuals outside of law enforcement, further undermining the credibility of the case he had led. Following Michael Proctor’s dismissal from the Massachusetts State Police, he and his family released a public statement defending his actions.
They asserted that Proctor had performed his duties with diligence and integrity and criticized the trial board’s decision as unfair and unprecedented, alleging he had been made a “scapegoat.” The family expressed sympathy for John O’Keefe’s loved ones and shared their desire for justice to prevail swiftly. Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth Proctor, also addressed the media and stated that their family had endured relentless public backlash for over two years and that the toll had been deeply personal. Currently, Michael is believed to be living in Canton, Massachusetts, with Elizabeth and their two young sons. He has denied all allegations of planting evidence as well. While he retains the right to appeal his dismissal through the Civil Service Commission, no such appeal has been filed as of now.
Read More: Brian Albert: Where is the Retired Boston Police Sergeant Now?
