Overview
- Sgt. Sean Goode submitted his resignation effective June 2 while an outside internal affairs probe into alleged misconduct continues and its findings will be sent to the Town of Canton and the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST).
- Karen Read filed an 87‑page civil complaint on June 4 in Bristol County Superior Court accusing the Massachusetts State Police and the Town of Canton of fostering a culture of bias and negligence that tainted the investigation of John O’Keefe’s 2022 death.
- The lawsuit attaches thousands of text and audio messages it attributes to former State Police Trooper Michael Proctor and Sgt. Goode that lawyers say contain racist, sexist, antisemitic and homophobic language and show entrenched bias.
- Michael Proctor was fired in March 2025 after a state police trial board found policy violations and POST suspended his certification, and Read’s complaint argues agency oversight failures allowed biased investigators to lead the probe.
- The case adds to a web of civil claims and audits: an independent review earlier faulted Canton police for evidence‑handling errors but found no proof of corruption, and the new suit could trigger further discipline and legal exposure for both agencies.