An independent investigation has found that former Canton Police Sgt. Sean Goode engaged in "a disturbing pattern of discriminatory, offensive, bigoted and hateful conduct" spanning more than a decade, according to an internal affairs report the town released in late June. The findings drew fresh attention this week after a social media influencer's posts reignited public debate over how Canton police handled the Karen Read investigation.

Retired Fairhaven Police Chief Michael Myers led the investigation through his firm, concluding there was sufficient credible evidence that Goode violated department policies on unlawful harassment and discrimination, professional conduct, and mobile data access. The texts at the center of it all, exchanged between Goode and fired Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor starting in 2013, included racial slurs targeting Black, Asian, Hispanic, Jewish and gay people, along with vulgar references to women and people with disabilities. The messages surfaced from Proctor's personal phone, preserved and searched as part of an unrelated prosecution in Dedham.

The town's own statement didn't soften the findings: the conduct "warrants permanent disqualification from the honor of serving as a police officer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or anywhere else," adding that "the language is horrific."

Canton first learned of the messages in late October 2025 and placed Goode on administrative leave. He resigned in early June, while the internal investigation was still underway. Two days later, Karen Read filed an 87-page civil lawsuit against the Town of Canton and Massachusetts State Police, publicly revealing hundreds of the text messages and alleging civil conspiracy along with negligent hiring, training and supervision. Read was acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges last year in the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe.

Because Goode had already resigned, investigators concluded no further discipline was possible — the case has instead been referred to the state's Peace Officers Safety and Training Commission, known as POST.

Massachusetts State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble called the messages "entirely inconsistent with any basic standard of decency and certainly with the expectations of a Massachusetts State Trooper," saying they reaffirmed his decision to fire Proctor last year. Dennis Galvin, president of the Massachusetts Association for Professional Law Enforcement, told MassLive the messages represent a "major, significant problem for the whole commonwealth" if they erode public trust statewide. Canton, for its part, said it has "the utmost faith and confidence in the new leadership of Canton Police Department under Chief Michael Daniels."

Goode's case now sits with the POST Commission, with no hearing date publicly scheduled. Read's civil lawsuit against Canton and the State Police remains active in Bristol Superior Court. The full internal affairs report is posted on the Town of Canton's website, with names redacted only for individuals not under investigation. Residents can file police misconduct complaints directly with the POST Commission.