The town of Canton, Massachusetts, has shared more details regarding the resignation of Police Sergeant Sean Goode, who stepped down amid an internal affairs investigation. The investigation was initiated after derogatory text messages allegedly sent by Goode were included in a civil lawsuit filed by Karen Read against the Canton Police and Massachusetts State Police.
Goode, who was involved in the investigation that led to Read being charged in the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, refused to appear for an internal affairs interview. This refusal led to potential termination proceedings, which would have been addressed at a Canton Select Board hearing. However, Goode submitted his resignation effective the Friday before the scheduled hearing.
Investigation Details
The town of Canton, while confirming Goode’s resignation, has been cautious in sharing details due to personnel and privacy regulations. However, it has provided a timeline of actions taken after becoming aware of the misconduct allegations. The town emphasized that it does not possess the messages allegedly sent by Goode, which were shared under court order with an independent investigator. This action was taken after the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office informed the town about the messages on October 24, leading to Goode being placed on administrative leave.
The investigation required reviewing over 200,000 text messages and voice notes spanning a decade. Despite Goode’s refusal to participate in the interview, the town proceeded with termination proceedings, which were preempted by his resignation.
Commitment to Integrity
The town has reiterated its commitment to addressing allegations of misconduct seriously. It stated that upon learning of the allegations, it promptly removed Goode from the workplace, retained an independent investigator, and pursued appropriate personnel actions. The town plans to release the finalized internal affairs report with necessary redactions and submit it to the state’s Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission.
The Canton Police Department has faced scrutiny during the high-profile Karen Read murder trial, where several officers, including Goode, testified. Read was ultimately found not guilty of murder following her second trial. An independent audit of the department, commissioned amid backlash over the handling of the investigation into O’Keefe’s death, highlighted procedural mistakes but found no reason for residents to doubt the department’s integrity.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
