Public Outcry Over Read Case Highlight MAPLE’s Long Standing Reform Agenda
As public attention and outrage over the conduct and professionalism of the state police in the Karen Read trial mount, media attention is increasingly being drawn to the public recommendations made by the Massachusetts Association for Professional Law Enforcement (MAPLE) which were forwarded to both Governors Baker (2018) and Healey (2024). In both cases MAPLE called for a “blue ribbon” commission to investigate the state police from “stem to stern”, following allegations of impropriety which surfaced after a former Colonel and a District Attorney, were accused of interceding in a criminal case brought forth by a state police road trooper against the daughter of a Worcester county judge. This incident was soon followed by a series of additional incidents, which raised questions about the integrity and competence of the agency. The latest blot on the record are the self-admitted unprofessional comments by Trooper Michael Proctor made in tweets during the Karen Read murder case.
The Boston Herald has been particularly interested in the prospect of an outside entity coming in and taking the Mass State Police into what they have described as “receivership”. A Herald reporter interviewed President Galvin over the weekend about the state police performance in the Read case. Galvin admitted that the the trial has raised “serious questions of professional conduct”; however, he refused to comment on any of the specifics of the case, while it is still going on. He did reiterate MAPLE’s call for a blue ribbon review.
Dan Rea, the host of WBZ nightside invited Galvin on for a one-hour discussion last evening. Galvin was asked to comment on the mounting concerns about the state police because of the Karen Read trial, but not the trial itself. Rea said the Governor and the State Police Colonel have both expressed public revulsion at the statements made by Trooper Proctor. Galvin responded by saying that people should be concerned. He added: “ the state police are integral part of this commonwealth’s security network. They investigate major crimes, interdict the illegal drug trade and potential terrorism and they are charged with keeping the highways safe.” Galvin added that “if there is cause to question the competence and integrity of the agency, the underpinnings of the entire security system that protects the Commonwealth can now be called into doubt.” For this reason, the issues impacting the state police must be addressed.
Rea asked Galvin to explain what needs to be done to restore faith and confidence into what was once a premiere law enforcement agency. Galvin responded by saying that there needs to be strong professional leadership at the top. He added that in order to deal with the problems of an agency as large and as complex as the Department of State Police, someone with experience in managing large police agencies and with successfully instituting reform needs to be brought on. Galvin told Rea that the new Colonel, whomever it is, also needs the protection of a term contract with specific provisions guaranteeing just cause for removal. If this is not guaranteed, then the appointment will fail. Step two according to Galvin is to conduct a completely transparent review of the organization, examining its hiring, training, assignment, deployment and promotional systems to ensure that the most appropriate and qualified people are put into the right positions.
Rea was a bit skeptical about whether an outside candidate would be accepted. Galvin said that he thought conditions on the state police had deteriorated to such a degree, that coupled with the public pressure being brought to bear even upon the honest and hard working troopers within the agency, this would override any provincial concerns. Galvin said that he believed that “the good troopers want to see this agency restored to its former level of professional standing.” That is their first concern.
Listen For Yourself
Dennis Galvin on Dan Rea re: Mass State Police
MAPLE 