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Boston 25 News WFXT
25 Investigates: 2 state police troopers connected to Karen Read case now under investigation
By Ted Daniel,
2024-07-24
25 Investigates has confirmed with Massachusetts State Police that 2 troopers working with the Norfolk County District Attorney’s office are under internal investigation. A third trooper was investigated, and the allegations have been classified as “unfounded.”
Read was charged in the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe in Canton. Her first trial ended in a hung jury earlier this month. A new trial date has been scheduled for January 2025.
The case is being investigated by Troopers assigned to the Norfolk DA’s office.
In an email first sent to Investigative reporter Ted Daniel late Tuesday afternoon, an MSP spokesperson wrote:
“The Massachusetts State Police confirms that Detective Lieutenant Brian Tully, Lieutenant John Fanning and Sergeant Yuri Bukhenik are each the subject of an active internal affairs investigation. The department respectfully declines further comment in fairness to the integrity of the process and pending investigative outcomes. The Troopers remain on full duty at this time.”
The State Police followed up with Boston 25 News later in the evening to say that the investigation into Lt. John Fanning was no longer active.
“The Department’s internal affairs investigation determined that there was insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the allegation that Lieutenant Fanning violated rules and regulations by failing to uphold the responsibilities of a supervisory member. This allegation has been classified as unfounded,” a follow-up statement from the State Police said.
Det. Lt. Tully is the Norfolk County State Police Detective Unit Commander. He testified in the Read trial in June. Tully was asked about the messages sent by Trooper Michael Proctor, who was suspended without pay earlier this month. Lt. Tully was not on the chain of offensive texts Proctor read from in court and Lt. Tully said he immediately reported Proctor’s texts to State Police command when he learned of them.
Proctor described his texts to the jury as unprofessional but said they had no impact on the integrity of the investigation.
Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik served as Trooper Proctor’s direct supervisor. He testified in the trial in June that Read told him she was framed.
Lieutenant John Fanning did not testify at Read’s first trial.
State Police would not say what the Troopers are being investigated for, only saying “Generally speaking, the purpose of an internal affairs investigation is to determine compliance with department rules and regulations.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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