Trooper Michael Proctor (Part 1)

Trooper Proctor is now the poster boy for this and the poster boy for why the state police are in desperate need of accountability.  

During David Yannetti's opening statement, he stated that the jury would hear that Trooper Michael Proctor sent text messages to his friends and colleagues.  One of those text messages, when referring to Karen Read said, "I hope she kills herself."  This is the lead investigator!  

Michael Proctor was the lead investigator on the Karen Read case, and before that was the lead investigator in the Brian Walsh case.  I have to believe that the unprofessional behavior that has been uncovered in the Karen Read case would, at the very least, have him working desk duty and nowhere near an investigation for the rest of his career.  What should happen is that he, and his colleagues in text threads should all be severely disciplined.  

Two of the troopers in these text threads were Michael Proctor's supervisors.  One of those supervisors, Trooper Yuriy Bukhenik, actually liked a text message from Michael Proctor saying, "I'm going through his retarded client's phone" when referring to a picture of attorney David Yannetti sent to him by another trooper.  He then went on to say, in reference to Yannetti, "I hate that man, I truly hate that man."  He also texted troopers, including two of his supervisors, "No nudes so far."  

As Alan Jackson said during cross examination yesterday, "Sir this is a citizen!  She is a woman you were supposed to be objectively investigating.  Does your text message reflect an objective investigation of a citizen?"  

Long before Karen Read, there were cases like George Floyd.  I grew up in California and was living there for the LA riots after the officers involved in the beating of Rodney King were originally found not guilty.  I was 14 and had a pretty good sense then that police accountability was lacking and changes needed to be made.  Now, over 30 years later, I feel we have not come very far in that regard.  

I have said over and over what happened to Karen Read should not happen to anyone, but it does, all too often.  We trust law enforcement way too much these days.  It started the moment any law enforcement officer began investigating.  From the improper evidence collection by the Canton Police, in fairness probably due to their inexperience with homicide investigations, to the completely horrendous behavior of the Massachusetts State Police in this investigation, something needs to be done.  My hope, besides a not guilty verdict for Karen Read, is that this case is a wake up call for those in the Attorney General's office and beyond that punches them right in the face and says, "We have to make changes!"

I do want to make clear that I do support police.  The police in my town have shown me as much respect as any law enforcement agency I have ever encountered in the past.  I believe protect and serve is a necessary entity in our society.  I will even go as far as to say "I back the blue."  However, what has come to the forefront in this case, in terms of the behavior of law enforcement, is unacceptable.

Can you imagine if Brian Walsh gets to walk free because of Trooper Proctor's indiscretions in this case?  While unlikely, it is not unheard of.  Imagine that!  A sociopathic murderer allowed to walk free because Trooper Proctor decided to be a scumbag!