Readers Say
“It’s been needed for quite a while, but the Karen Read case has put them in the spotlight,” one of more than 900 respondents to our poll said.
Massachusetts State Police Headquarters in Framingham. (John Tlumacki/Globe Staff)
The Karen Read murder trial has taken Massachusetts by storm and has cast light on the Mass. State Police, which Boston.com readers say is in need of “a major overhaul.”
The call by readers comes after questionable conduct by Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctorthe lead investigator in the case, came to light earlier this month.
Proctor admitted on the stand to “juvenile and regrettable” comments he made in texts to friends and co-workers during his investigation into Read, who is accused of killing Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe.
In the text messages, Proctor called Read “a whack job,” and a “nutbag,” made fun of her medical condition (Crohn’s disease), and used derogatory language to describe her. In a text to his sister, Proctor said he hoped Read “kills herself.” He also commented to colleagues, “No nudes so far,” when searching her phone.
The Massachusetts State Police department has opened an investigation into Proctor. Jurors in the Read trial are expected to begin their deliberations sometime this week.
Calls for a blue ribbon commission
Boston.com reader Donna C. from Revere said an overhaul of the MSP has “been needed for quite a while, but the Karen Read case has put them in the spotlight.”
Indeed, there have been long-standing concerns about the MSP and calls for reformation within the agency. The law enforcement watchdog Massachusetts Association for Professional Law Enforcement (MAPLE) has been calling for a blue ribbon investigation since 2018, according to Dennis Galvin, the group’s president.
Galvin, a retired major with the State Police, told Boston.com that MAPLE has been calling for a “stem to stern review of the entire agency” in the form of a blue ribbon commission in response to a series of scandals over the last six years.
“Time for a major overhaul and bring in some outsiders to manage the organization. The overtime scandal was just the tip of the iceberg,” Boston.com reader Joe M. from Allston said.
The blue ribbon commission would entail a comprehensive public review of the entire organization, including its selection processes, its training philosophy, how it makes its assignments and deployments, and what its promotional and supervisory practices are, Galvin said.
Galvin retired from the MSP 20 years ago, after joining the agency in 1974. He said the agency was an institution he aspired to, loved, and respected, and called it “heartbreaking” to see it undergo the troubles it has.
“But we feel as though we also have an obligation to that old agency and to what it stood for, to make sure that we point out that this is not the way we conduct the business – this is something different. And it’s going to be fixed. And it sounds like some people are starting to get the message,” he said.
In the wake of the MSP coming under scrutiny during the Karen Read trial, we asked Boston.com readers if the agency should undergo an overhaul. The overwhelming majority (93%) of the 904 respondents to our poll said yes, the agency needs an overhaul. Only 7% voted no to an overhaul.
Does the Massachusetts State Police need an overhaul?
Many readers expressed outrage over the text messages Proctor sent about Read to his coworkers and senior leadership at the agency, and called his conduct “unprofessional,” “unacceptable,” and “misogynistic.”
In a statement to Boston.com, a spokesperson for MSP said “while the Massachusetts State Police remains committed to respecting the integrity of the ongoing criminal trial and our own internal affairs investigation, Colonel Mawn understands and shares the concerns about police misconduct that have emerged during the trial. The public and the Department itself rightfully holds State Police members to the highest standard of professionalism, and anything short of this undermines the trust we depend on to effectively accomplish our mission.”
Below, see what readers had to say about Trooper Proctor and changes to the Massachusetts State Police.
Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
Does the Massachusetts State Police need an overhaul?
Yes
“This officer’s behavior disgraced himself and his profession. That fact alone does not warrant an overhaul. It seems his colleagues and superiors were aware of his behaviors and conflicts of interest. Their inaction is a far greater concern than his actions alone – that does warrant an overhaul. Hopefully the agency disciplines all officers involved rather than simply using this officer as a scapegoat. Guilty or innocent, his behavior compromised this investigation and the credibility of the entire department. One of his superiors should have intervened.”
– Jake L., Grafton
“I support an overhaul of the Mass State Police. The list of controversies is long. An ethics check and a reaffirmation on code of conduct would go a long way for me (as a female U.S. veteran residing in Massachusetts) to restore faith that every state trooper performs their duty in a professional and trustworthy manner.”
– L.C., Massachusetts
“Every single organization our tax dollars pay for should be subject to annual reviews and audits, and the results of those audits should be made public. This organization in particular seems to produce scandal after scandal. We, as citizens of the Commonwealth, deserve to know whether or not an organization like the MSP deserves our support.”
– Bill, Brighton
“What’s most disturbing is that this behavior was sent to his [Trooper Proctor’s] superiors and he was not reprimanded. They are all still in positions of power where this behavior likely continues to exist, and will happen again if not corrected. Sensitivity training is necessary and more accountability is a must. They likely need a watchdog and probation.”
– Joe, South Boston
“Between the numerous overtime scandals that have come to light over the last few years, the recent CDL license scandal and the alleged police cover up in the Karen Read case, it seems obvious that an overhaul of the State Police is needed. While the vast majority of police officers do their jobs honestly and ethically, when just a few go outside the bounds of what’s acceptable, it taints the reputation of the entire agency. While it’s unreasonable to expect perfection, there needs to be higher standards in place to prove that the State Police are at least striving for perfection as well as more accountability for their actions.”
– Jeff, Natick
“Any law enforcement professional at the state police, aware of or in receipt of, unprofessional text messages stemming from a criminal investigation should have spurred internal actions to address such objectionable practices. An internal investigation now is informed only because of public scrutiny, not because of a sudden enlightenment to reform or uphold acceptable public safety protocols. The Karen Read case exposed incompetent leadership at The Massachusetts State Police.”
– Joe D., Groveland
“I believe that the MSP should have a blue ribbon commission. They are supposed to be the leaders of the state in law enforcement. Some things that were done in this investigation are unethical, unprofessional and just plain wrong. If the citizens of the commonwealth are expected to follow the laws of the state, then it is to be expected that the same laws apply to the Massachusetts State Police. I live in this state, pay taxes in this state and I expect that the Massachusetts State Police will uphold the oath they took to serve the commonwealth. If some state troopers are unable to do this; they need to be held accountable for their actions and dismissed from their duties.”
– Kelly P., Marlborough
No
“MSP does not need an overhaul, but maybe an audit to see if they’re performing at their expected levels. The disgusting language used by Trooper Proctor certainly doesn’t seem it should be their expected level of performance. I very much trust MSP and believe they do a fabulous job of keeping the state safe, but there are bad cops everywhere (Proctor). Unfortunately, we usually only hear about the bad ones and not the good ones. The good ones outnumber the bad ones.”
– Ryan, Amesbury
“Unfortunately in organizations large and small there are members who don’t uphold or outright disregard standards and decency. Proctor is one of them and needs to be disciplined. However he is not the poster boy. I know many other troopers shining they’re flashlights into cars at 2am or serving search warrants all in efforts to protect public safety. Internal review including his chain of command should do it.”
– John, Shrewsbury
“Let’s be realistic. Every week for the last nine years there have been trials where defense has had access to Massachusetts State Police text communications. Yet this is the first time such a defaming series of texts have been discovered. So should we knee-jerk and spend tens of millions reworking MSP over what may be a one-off issue? I don’t think so.”
– Chuck H., Harwich
“These guys are doing a job that nobody else wants to do. They have taken a lot of abuse in the last five years. Pretty soon nobody will want to go into law enforcement. They are being treated like murderers because of some locker room talk.”
– Karen, Waltham
“You can’t blame every trooper for a couple of bad apples, you gotta pick your battles. The state will make an example out of him. It’s really sad that Mass. state troopers’ reputation will be tarnished for a while.”
– Whit, Waltham
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
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