Norfolk County State Police Detective Unit

The members assigned to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s State Police Detective Unit have been the subject of personal attacks from criminal defense attorneys and the media for doing their jobs.

As we all know, State Police Detectives are assigned to each District Attorneys’ Office and to the Office of the Attorney General in Massachusetts.  In homicide investigations, they work at the direction of the District Attorney under M.G.L. c. 38, § 4.  State Police Detectives work under extreme conditions to professionally and comprehensively perform homicide investigations throughout the Commonwealth.  They do this work without favor.  They follow the evidence.

This is true in the case of the investigation into the death of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe.  State Police Detectives worked as a team to investigate this homicide, which occurred during a severe snowstorm, at the direction of the Norfolk County District Attorney.  They followed the evidence and where it led. The evidence collected was presented by the District Attorney’s Office to an independent Grand Jury.  That Grand Jury – and no one else – issued the charges in connection with the death of Officer John O’Keefe.

Criminal defense attorneys and agenda-based outlets have baselessly smeared our members’ names and reputations. Additionally, there have been gatherings at our members’ homes with the intent to intimidate them and their families for the work performed in this investigation. Trooper Proctor has personally been defamed in the media and in court. This is not only wrong but unacceptable. Harassing and intimidating any witness in a criminal investigation is illegal.  We stand with you, Mike, as we do all of the State Police Detectives.

This case will be tried in court before a judge and a jury, not in the media. I would ask that we all stand with Trooper Proctor and our members assigned to the Norfolk District Attorney’s State Police Detective Unit as they pursue justice for Officer John O’Keefe in the face of unprecedented attacks.

As always stay safe and watch out for each other.