BOSTON – Karen Read has taken a significant step by filing a lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police and the town of Canton. She claims that there was misconduct and negligence in the investigation that led to her being prosecuted for the death of her boyfriend, a Boston police officer.
This lawsuit, which was filed in Bristol County Superior Court, argues that Read’s acquittal last June exposed a serious issue within both the police department and the town. The suit claims there is an “embedded culture of bigotry, misogyny, systemic failures, and institutional rot” affecting how these organizations operate. It also alleges that there was negligence in how officers were hired, trained, and supervised.
Recommended Videos
As of now, there has been no response from the town of Canton or its police department regarding the lawsuit.
Read was freed about a year ago after enduring more than three years and two trials related to the death of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, who was a Boston police officer. O’Keefe was found on the lawn of a fellow officer’s home after a night of heavy drinking during a snowstorm.
Initially, Read faced serious charges, including second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene. However, the jury ultimately convicted her of a lesser charge related to drunken driving.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Read had hit O’Keefe with her SUV and left him to die in the blizzard. However, her defense team painted a different picture, suggesting that police misconduct was at play and that O’Keefe might have been killed by his colleagues, who then covered it up.
One of the key figures in the investigation was lead investigator Michael Proctor, who defense attorneys claimed harbored bias against Read. The Massachusetts State Police later found Proctor guilty of sending inappropriate and defamatory text messages about her while leading the investigation. As a result, he was fired, leading to outrage among Read’s supporters, who believe he played a crucial role in an alleged cover-up.
The lawsuit filed by Read includes extensive details about Proctor and another former officer, Sean Goode, citing various communications that demonstrate racial and sexist remarks. Read argues that these materials prove both men were unsuitable for the investigation and highlight broader issues of oversight within the law enforcement agencies.
Goode was placed on leave in November 2025 following allegations of misconduct and recently resigned from his position, as reported by news outlets.
