Karen Read has taken legal action against the Massachusetts State Police and the town of Canton, claiming they mishandled the investigation that led to her trial for the death of her police officer boyfriend. The lawsuit, submitted to Bristol County Superior Court, follows her acquittal of second-degree murder charges.
Read argues that the verdict highlighted deep-seated issues within the police force, citing an “embedded culture of bigotry, misogyny, systemic failures, and institutional rot.” The lawsuit accuses the town and police department of negligence in hiring, training, and supervising officers.
The Canton Police Department and the town have yet to provide comments on the lawsuit. In June 2025, Read was acquitted after two trials, charged for the death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe. He was found on a colleague’s lawn following a night of heavy drinking in a snowstorm.
Initially facing charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene, Read was instead convicted of drunk driving. Prosecutors alleged Read hit O’Keefe with her SUV, leaving him to succumb to the cold. Her defense portrayed police misconduct, suggesting O’Keefe was killed by fellow officers who then covered it up.
A key figure in the trial was lead investigator Michael Proctor. Accused of bias against Read, Proctor sent offensive messages during the investigation, resulting in his dismissal. This stirred Read supporters who suspect he participated in framing her.
The complaint spotlights misconduct by Proctor and former Sgt. Sean Goode, presenting evidence of their unfit participation in the investigation. It reflects on failures by law enforcement oversight. Goode, accused of misconduct, resigned recently after being placed on leave in November 2025.