Massachusetts State Police settle lawsuit with Karen Read for $100,000

The Massachusetts State Police has agreed to pay Karen Read a $100,000 settlement to resolve her lawsuit against the agency. The Daily Mail, The Washington Post, The Independent, Yahoo, Oxygen, and Newsradio WOOD all reported the six-figure agreement. [1][2][3][4][5][6]

The settlement follows Read's acquittal in June 2025 on charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death. Prosecutors had alleged that she struck her boyfriend, 46-year-old Boston police officer John O'Keefe, with her vehicle after heavy drinking on January 29, 2022, before dropping him off at a party at officer Brian Albert's home. Her defense team argued O'Keefe was beaten inside the residence as part of a law enforcement cover-up. The Independent termed the payout a settlement for wrongful prosecution, while Oxygen categorized it as a misconduct lawsuit. [1][3][5][10]

Read's legal proceedings began with a 2024 trial that ended in a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury. In her June 2025 retrial, a jury acquitted her of the three primary charges, although she was convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence and received a sentence. [10]

The Massachusetts State Police is the largest law enforcement agency in New England, maintaining 2,500 sworn troopers and 611 civilian support staff. The department is headed by Colonel Geoffrey Noble, who is the first colonel appointed from outside the state police ranks. [7]