The Massachusetts State Police have agreed to pay $100,000 to Karen Read after a lawsuit alleged improper conduct by an officer during an investigation. The officer in question, Michael Proctor, allegedly sent racist and misogynistic messages. Read, previously acquitted in a murder trial, brought this to court, emphasizing a ‘culture of bigotry’ in the agency. Proctor was eventually dismissed in 2025 due to misconduct. The settlement aims to prevent prolonged litigation and additional taxpayer costs.
Proctor’s messages, which included racial and sexist slurs, were integral to Read’s claims. The Massachusetts law limited damages to $100,000. The state police condemned the content of Proctor’s quoted messages in legal statements.
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