BOSTON – Karen Read has filed a lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police and the town of Canton. The lawsuit claims misconduct and negligence in the investigation related to her prosecution for the death of her boyfriend, a Boston police officer.
The suit, filed in Bristol County Superior Court, argues that Read’s acquittal highlighted systemic issues within both organizations, including bigotry and misogyny. It accuses the town and police department of negligence in hiring, training, and supervising officers.
Neither the town of Canton nor the Canton Police Department has commented on the lawsuit. Read was acquitted of second-degree murder charges over a year ago after two trials spanning over three years.
The case pertained to the death of her boyfriend, Officer John O’Keefe, found deceased at a fellow officer’s residence following a night of drinking during a snowstorm. Read was initially charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene, but was ultimately convicted of a lesser charge, drunken driving.
Prosecutors claimed that Read hit O’Keefe with her SUV on the night of the incident in January 2022, abandoning him in the storm. Her defense argued a narrative of police misconduct, suggesting O’Keefe’s colleagues were responsible and covered it up.
A key focus of the trial was investigator Michael Proctor, whom the defense accused of bias against Read. The Massachusetts State Police trial board found Proctor guilty of sending inappropriate and defamatory texts about Read during his investigation, leading to his dismissal.
The complaint highlights numerous pages of evidence pointing to Proctor and former Canton police Sgt. Sean Goode, including racist, sexist, and derogatory communications. Read’s claim suggests these actions display their unsuitability for the investigation and broader systemic failures.
In November 2025, Goode was placed on leave following a notification of misconduct allegations. He resigned this week, according to news outlets.