Commonwealth Confidential: State of Policing

NBC10 Boston teamed up with journalism students at Boston University’s College of Communication in an in-depth reporting class taught by NBC10 Investigator Ryan Kath for a deeper dive into the Massachusetts State Police

What to Know

  • Recent controversies, including fallout from testimony by Trooper Michael Proctor in the Karen Read case to the death of Enrique Delgado-Garcia, a trooper at the Massachusetts State Police Academy, are raising questions about the state of policing in the Commonwealth
  • NBC10 Boston is taking a deep dive into the issue, specifically focusing on Massachusetts State Police and our district attorney's offices, in a new series, "Commonwealth Confidential: State of Policing"
  • We'll address the history of scandals with Massachusetts State Police, current public perception of the agency, how the system works compared to other states and more
  • You can watch by tuning in to NBC10 Boston or our free 24/7 streaming channel, plus check the app or our website for digital extras breaking down the documents and data collected during our reporting

An author who researches homicides in Massachusetts says the Karen Read trial exposed something about the state police that she's suspected for years.

Despite Massachusetts State Police's high homicide solve rate, she says, across the state, murder investigations are susceptible to conflicts of interest and a lack of oversight.

We talk to legal experts who weigh in on the system in the commonwealth. Click here for more.

An author who researches homicides in the Bay State says the Karen Read trial exposed something about Massachusetts State Police she suspected for years.

Here's a look at our stories.

Monday, Nov. 18: A look at the history of scandals at Massachusetts State Police

The death of Enrique Delgado-Garcia at the Massachusetts State Police Academy is the latest in a long string of scandals for the agency. 

Tuesday, Nov. 19: What is public perception of Mass. State Police?

Recent headlines have thrust the Massachusetts State Police into the public eye, opening the agency up to public scrutiny. We asked people in Boston what they think of the agency, and experts about the perception of the agency and what might change the culture.

Wednesday, Nov. 20: How Massachusetts investigates officers' use of deadly force and how it compares to other states

The family of a man shot and killed by police believes district attorneys can't be trusted to objectively investigate their colleagues.

Thursday, Nov. 21: What is the culture like at the Mass. State Police Academy?

The death of a recruit at the Massachusetts State Police Academy has brought renewed attention not only to the academy's training, but also its culture.

Friday, Nov. 22. The state is not known for transparency or strong open records law. How does that impact police accountability?

Massachusetts agencies, particularly the state police, have a well-known lack of transparency, especially when it comes to public records.

Tuesday, Nov. 26: Since its creation in 1992, the Massachusetts State Police has seen decades of gender discrimination allegations. We took a look at some of the lawsuits.

The NBC10 Boston Investigators reviewed complaints and lawsuits, finding repeated accusations of discrimination within the ranks of the Massachusetts State Police.

Here's a look at payroll data at Massachusetts State Police

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