If you’ve spent any time following the Karen Read case, you know the name Michael Proctor. He’s the guy who became the face of a "botched" investigation, a former Massachusetts State Police trooper who saw his career go up in smoke after his private texts were read aloud for the world to hear. But then came the Michael Proctor 20/20 interview, a sit-down that felt like a Hail Mary pass in a game he was already losing.
Honestly, it was surreal. Watching a man who had been stone-faced on the witness stand finally try to explain why he called a suspect a "wack job" or why he was joking about looking for nudes on her phone. He wasn't just defending his investigation; he was fighting for his soul—or at least his pension.
Why the Michael Proctor 20/20 Interview Actually Happened
Proctor didn't just wake up and decide to chat with ABC’s Matt Gutman for fun. By the time the cameras were rolling in mid-2025, his life was a wreck. He’d been fired. He was a pariah in Canton. His family was getting harassed. Basically, he was backed into a corner.
The goal of the interview was simple: damage control. He needed to convince the "silent majority" (his words) that he wasn't the corrupt villain the "Free Karen Read" movement made him out to be. He wanted people to see a human being who made a mistake, not a conspirator who planted evidence.
The "Figure of Speech" Defense
One of the most jarring moments in the Michael Proctor 20/20 interview was how he handled the "kill herself" text. If you remember the trial, Proctor texted his friends saying he hoped Read would take her own life.
When Gutman pressed him on it, Proctor’s response was... well, it was something. He called it a "figure of speech." He said it was "said in jest" during a moment of high emotion because he was investigating the death of a fellow officer, John O’Keefe.
"I expressed those emotions in a negative way, which I shouldn't have," Proctor told 20/20. "They are what they are. They don't define me as a person."
Whether you believe that or not kind of depends on which side of the "Canton Divide" you sit on. To his critics, it was a pathetic excuse. To his supporters, it was a guy venting in a private chat that never should have been public.
The Evidence Planting Allegations
This is where things get technical. The defense’s whole theory was that Proctor found pieces of Read’s broken taillight and planted them at the scene to frame her.
In the interview, Proctor laughed it off. He called the accusation "ridiculous."
- His Argument: He claims there isn't a single piece of forensic evidence showing he tampered with anything.
- The Reality: The defense pointed to the fact that he had Read’s car in his possession and that more glass appeared at the scene after he had access to it.
- The 20/20 Takeaway: Proctor stood firm. He insisted his investigation was by the book, even if his mouth (or his thumbs) wasn't.
He did make one interesting admission, though. He conceded that maybe they "could have looked at other people's cars just to say we did it." It was a rare moment of admitting that the appearance of bias was a problem, even if he didn't believe the bias was real.
What Happened After the Cameras Stopped Rolling?
If Proctor thought the Michael Proctor 20/20 interview would save his job, he was wrong. In late 2025, things actually got worse.
While he was appealing his termination, the Massachusetts State Police dropped a bombshell. They found more texts. This time, they weren't just "unprofessional"—they were allegedly racist and offensive in ways that made the previous messages look tame.
By October 2025, Proctor realized the writing was on the wall. He dropped his appeal to get his job back. He just walked away. He signed a letter saying he was doing it of his own free will, but most insiders know he was likely facing even more embarrassing disclosures if the hearings continued.
The Final Blow: Decertification
As of late December 2025, Michael Proctor is officially banned from being a cop in Massachusetts. The POST Commission (Peace Officer Standards and Training) revoked his certification.
It’s over.
He can’t work as a police officer in the state ever again. The guy who was the lead investigator on some of the biggest cases in the region, including the Brian Walshe case, is now legally prohibited from wearing a badge.
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The Lingering Impact on the Karen Read Case
Even though Proctor is gone, the ripples from his 20/20 interview and his conduct are still moving.
- Other Cases: The Norfolk County DA is now having to review years of Proctor's old cases. If he was this biased and unprofessional in the Read case, defense attorneys are asking: who else did he screw over?
- Public Trust: The Massachusetts State Police have a massive PR problem. Colonel Geoffrey Noble has been scrambling to implement new policies, but when the lead investigator on a murder trial is caught joking about nudes and wishing death on suspects, "new policies" feel like a band-aid on a gunshot wound.
- The Civil Suit: Karen Read isn't done. She’s currently suing Proctor and several others involved in the investigation. The words he spoke on 20/20 will almost certainly be used against him in a civil courtroom.
Actionable Insights: What This Means for You
If you're following high-profile legal battles or just interested in how the "sausage is made" in criminal investigations, there are a few things to keep in mind from the Michael Proctor saga:
- Privacy is a Myth: Proctor’s downfall started with "private" texts. In the age of digital forensics, nothing is private. If you're in a position of public trust, your "private" thoughts can and will become public evidence.
- Credibility is Currency: Proctor might have been right about the forensics of the taillight (a jury did convict Read of OUI, after all), but his lack of character made the truth irrelevant to many people. Once you lose your credibility, the facts don't matter as much as they should.
- The Power of the "Silent Majority": Proctor’s belief that most people actually supported him was a recurring theme in the 20/20 interview. It shows how insulated public figures can become when they only listen to their immediate circle.
The Michael Proctor 20/20 interview was a fascinating look at a man trying to outrun his own shadow. He tried to explain away the "whack job" comments and the "nude" jokes as just "locker room talk" or "venting," but the public—and the State Police—weren't buying it.
If you want to stay updated on the ongoing civil litigation or the status of the other cases Proctor touched, keep an eye on the Massachusetts POST Commission's public disciplinary records. They provide a transparent look at which officers are being held accountable and why.