As suspended Trooper Michael Proctor once more confronted the Mass State Police disciplinary trial board on Thursday, his household spoke out and defended the statie, whereas ripping Karen Learn’s protection group for “creating false narratives and distracting the public.”
Proctor has been suspended with out pay since final summer season for his offensive texts about Learn, a homicide defendant accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston cop John O’Keefe.
Proctor — who in texts known as Learn a “whack job” and a “babe,” and texted “No nudes so far” to colleagues whereas looking her cellphone, and wrote “Hopefully she kills herself” — was suspended following the primary Learn trial final yr. Proctor may face everlasting self-discipline.
Now as Proctor’s MSP disciplinary trial board listening to wrapped up on Thursday, his household launched a press release in help of the trooper and accused Learn’s protection group of utilizing Proctor to deflect from proof.
“At the end of the day, a beloved police officer and honorable man was killed,” his spouse Elizabeth stated in a press release. “The Prosecution believes it’s an open and shut case, and the defense knows this, too.
“So, their tactic is to put my husband, the lead investigator, on trial for sending texts on his personal phone to his friends and family,” his spouse added. “The Karen Read defense team is unabashedly creating false narratives and distracting the public and potential jurors from clear-cut evidence.”
It was lately introduced that every one features of the federal investigation involving this case has been closed.
Proctor testified through the first Learn trial that the texts on his private cellphone had been unprofessional and regrettable, however he stated they didn’t have an effect on the integrity of the investigation.
“Michael — and so many others in his line of work — see horrible things every day and may at times need to vent personally,” his sister Courtney stated. “He saw a fellow officer die a horrible, tragic death. Who among us has not said something regrettable in moments of stress, shock, or sadness? And how would you feel if the contents of your personal phone were questionably released to the public without full context?”
Proctor’s spouse stated the household has been tormented for years due to the case.
“Unfortunately, we know that by speaking out, more harassment will be unleashed on our family,” his spouse stated. “But we can no longer stand by and silently watch Michael’s character be attacked and disparaged so unfairly. After exhaustive investigations at both the state and federal level, and a grand jury, only one person has been charged with a crime, the defendant Karen Read.”
After State Police completed its inside affairs investigation into Proctor, the division convened a trial board as the subsequent step within the disciplinary course of. The trial board is out of the general public’s eye, as Proctor may face everlasting self-discipline.
“The trial board proceedings for Trooper Michael Proctor have concluded,” a State Police spokesperson stated in a press release on Thursday. “The panel of 3 commissioned officers will deliberate.”
On the finish of any IA investigation, the division might pursue prices that will be adjudicated by a State Police Trial Board. The board makes disciplinary suggestions to the superintendent, who determines the ultimate end result.
“A State Police Trial Board shall hear cases regarding violations of Rules, Regulations, Policies, Procedures, Orders, or Directives,” reads the Division’s Guidelines and Rules.
“The Trial Board shall enter a determination of ‘Guilty’ or ‘Not Guilty’ for each charge/specification,” the foundations and rules state. “In the event that the Trial Board finds guilt by a preponderance of the evidence on one or more of the charges, the Trial Board shall consider the evidence presented by the Department prosecutor pertaining to the accused member’s prior offenses/disciplinary history, and shall make recommendations for administrative action.”
The trial board forwards its findings to the Lieutenant Colonel/Deputy Superintendent.
The division relieved Proctor of obligation on July 1, the exact same day a mistrial was declared within the Learn case. Proctor was transferred from the Norfolk DA’s Detective Unit to discipline providers although he was ineligible to work. The State Police convened an obligation standing listening to, and suspended him with out pay efficient July 8.
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