Canton Police Department is the town force that fielded the first 911 call from 34 Fairview Road, processed the initial scene, and became the focus of the defense's conflict-of-interest case. The department recused itself from witness interviews: Officer Paul Gallagher testified that Canton PD stood down because "one of our best investigators' name is Kevin Albert — he's the property owner's brother — and we didn't think it would be appropriate."[1] State Police took jurisdiction; Canton PD "assist[ed] them in any way we can."[2] The defense argued the recusal was incomplete — that Canton PD personnel retained operational access that mattered.
Karen Read's Lexus was held in the Canton PD sally port for three days before State Police processed it. Gallagher conceded that the sally port during that window was accessible to "the entire department" — roughly forty-five personnel.[3] Canton PD's own dispatch log on the morning of January 29 contained the wrong street address, a foundational error Jackson pressed on cross.[4] Brian Albert's brother Kevin was an active Canton PD detective,[5] and McLaughlin, a Canton firefighter-paramedic first at the scene, was contacted via a third officer rather than standard investigative channels to meet Trooper Proctor at the station.[6]
“So right off the bat, the official Canton Police Department dispatch log — one of the first documents generated in any investigative event — that's completely wrong, right?”
— Alan Jackson
Establishes that foundational investigative documents contained basic factual errors
“So the first time you ever repeated that statement was on February 8th, with Trooper Proctor, correct?”
— Alan Jackson
Highlights a ten-day gap where Nuttall told no one — not hospital staff, not Canton PD, not State Police — about the alleged admission
“Does the name Kevin Albert sound familiar?”
— Alan Jackson
Jackson introduces Kevin Albert — a Canton PD officer and Brian Albert's brother — implying he may have coordinated McLaughlin's interview with Trooper Proctor, connecting another Albert family member to the investigation.
“You recall being contacted by a completely different officer to say, 'Hey, Trooper Proctor wants to talk to you, come on in to Canton PD, want to have an interview'?”
— Alan Jackson
Suggests the interview was arranged through a third party rather than standard investigative channels, implying coordination.
“There was no conflict of interest. I said it was the appearance of a conflict of interest.”
— Paul Gallagher
Gallagher draws a distinction between actual and apparent conflict, which Jackson uses to question why Canton PD continued participating in the investigation.
“I would say the entire department.”
— Paul Gallagher
Gallagher concedes that all ~45 Canton PD personnel had access to the sallyport where Read's SUV sat for three days before state police processing.
“We did not want to go on any investigative interviews because one of our best investigators' name is Kevin Albert — he's the property owner's brother — and we didn't think it would be appropriate if we were on those interviews questioning his family members.”
— Paul Gallagher
Provides the specific reason for Canton PD's partial recusal — a named conflict of interest with Detective Kevin Albert
“The state police takes jurisdiction. They run the investigation. We assist them in any way we can.”
— Paul Gallagher
Frames Canton PD as subordinate to state police, deflecting criticism of their investigative decisions
“So your investigative technique is just to ask a witness how'd that dead body get there, and if they say I have no idea, your job's just done, right?”
— Alan Jackson
Frames Canton PD's approach as passively accepting witness accounts rather than actively investigating
“Absolutely none of that was done here, though.”
— Alan Jackson
Jackson's closing point summarizing the defense theory that Canton PD failed to investigate the scene
“He has a satellite office in our department. He has his own scan card — he doesn't have to check in with myself or anybody. But he works out of our station.”
— Sean Goode
Establishes Brian Higgins' unrestricted access to Canton PD, relevant to his movements that night.
“I remember at one point during the evening he came in. I don't remember if he came into the dispatch or if I just saw him on one of the numerous monitors we have in dispatch.”
— Sean Goode
Places Higgins at the Canton police station around 1:30 a.m. on the night O'Keefe died.
“I didn't take the supplemental report, so I don't know.”
— Sean Goode
Goode cannot identify who altered his own report's face sheet, raising questions about chain of custody and accountability within Canton PD.
“Anytime I enter or leave the police department, the exterior doors going out the back, there's a key scan you put up to it to unlock the door to come in.”
— Sean Goode
Establishes that Canton PD maintains electronic records of officer movements, relevant to tracking who was at the station the night O'Keefe died.
“So when the only parties left at the scene are members of the Albert family, Jen McCabe, and the Canton Police Department representatives — that's when the lights inside 34 Fairview finally came on. Okay?”
— Alan Jackson
Establishes suspicious timing — the house only showed signs of activity after all independent witnesses had departed.
“It looks like an evidence bag — it just doesn't say Canton police on it. It says Stop and Shop.”
— Michael Lank
Blood evidence from the scene was stored in a grocery bag without evidence tape, labels, or property numbers — devastating to chain of custody.
“There was no manipulation, alteration of the video between when we received it from Canton Police Department, when I played it, and when it was played for you now.”
— Yuri Bukhenik
Direct rebuttal to the defense suggestion that the prosecution deliberately presented a misleading video
“It came from the Canton Police Department.”
— Yuri Bukhenik
The sallyport video was provided by the very department that recused itself from the investigation, raising chain-of-custody and conflict-of-interest concerns.
“That video was never secured by me. I was not asked to secure it. I was just asked to review it.”
— Yuri Bukhenik
The lead MSP investigator had no role in securing key video evidence, which instead passed through the recused Canton PD.
“Because of the appearance of a conflict, we had made a decision that the Canton Police was going to take a step back from the investigation and that the state police would do the investigation without them.”
— Brian Tully
Acknowledges the conflict of interest created by the homeowner at 34 Fairview being connected to Canton PD, and documents the decision to limit Canton's role.
“Did he tell you that the reason we're here, the reason we set this is because Kevin Albert texted me that he had already coordinated with you?”
— Alan Jackson
Implies Trooper Proctor's interview of McLaughlin was arranged through Canton police officer Kevin Albert rather than through normal channels.
“Since the state police were not responding, I decided to process the area where Mr. O'Keefe was found and try to find out why he had the medical episode he was having.”
— Paul Gallagher
Establishes that Canton PD processed the scene only because state police initially declined to respond.
“Could have, but didn't.”
— Paul Gallagher
Gallagher concedes he could have sent an officer to get proper swabs from Canton PD but chose not to.
“When Trooper Tully told you that the vehicle was en route and could not provide you a photograph at, let's call it, 5:50 p.m., did he tell you that the vehicle had actually been secured at Canton PD about a mile and a half away at 5:35 p.m.?”
— Alan Jackson
Establishes that Tully withheld or misrepresented the vehicle's location, preventing O'Hara from obtaining a reference photograph before the search.
“Canton police, out of overwhelming precaution of impropriety — not that there was one — decided to step away from any interview or investigation assistance with us.”
— Yuri Bukhenik
Prosecution proactively addresses Canton PD's recusal, framing it as routine precaution rather than evidence of conflict
“Were you ever asked to do any buccal swabs of Chief Berkowitz of the Canton Police Department?”
— David Yannetti
Names the Canton police chief as someone whose DNA was never collected
“Were you ever asked to do any buccal swabs of Detective Kevin Albert of the Canton Police Department?”
— David Yannetti
Highlights that Kevin Albert — a member of the Albert family central to defense theories — was never swabbed
“Were you ever asked to compare DNA samples from either Canton Police Detective Kevin Albert or Canton Police Chief Kenneth Berkowitz to the DNA profile that you analyzed from that passenger side tail light?”
— David Yannetti
Establishes that police never sought DNA comparisons against individuals connected to the Albert family
“I was never interviewed by any member of the Canton Police Department... No.”
— Kelly Dever
Establishes that Canton PD never sought her observations despite her being on duty that night — supports defense theory of inadequate/compromised investigation.
The primary Canton PD sallyport interior surveillance recording capturing Read's Lexus SUV arriving on January 29, 2022. The recording as originally provided by Canton PD was mirror-inverted; a corrected (non-inverted) version was later produced and introduced by the defense. The footage shows Trooper Proctor's movements in the sallyport bay, including activity near the right rear taillight area of the vehicle.
A broken drinking glass, identified as a cocktail glass, recovered from the front yard at 34 Fairview Road by Canton police personnel who uncovered it using a leaf blower. The same type of glass was seen carried by O'Keefe when he exited the Waterfall Bar. Physical match analysis confirmed six of nine scene glass pieces (item 7-12) originated from this glass; no bumper glass pieces matched it.
Six red Solo cups containing coagulated blood and snow collected from the Fairview Road scene, transported unsealed in a Stop & Shop grocery bag without individual labeling, chain-of-custody documentation, or proper forensic containers.
Canton Police Department key card entry and exit logs documenting personnel movements into and out of the station on January 29, 2022, spanning 167 pages and approximately 4,500 total entries.
Photograph of the right rear tail light of Karen Read's black Lexus SUV showing extensive damage including missing portions and protruding metal, taken at the Canton PD sallyport. Shown to multiple witnesses across Trial 2.
The Canton Police Department dispatch log documenting emergency calls and unit responses on January 29, 2022. Contains the recorded arrival order, arrival times, and the address logged for the O'Keefe call.
Lieutenant Brian Tully's report documenting his April 2024 interview with Canton PD Lieutenant Paul Gallagher, conducted approximately two years after the incident.
Sergeant Michael Lank's Canton Police incident report from January 29, 2022, documenting interviews at Brian Albert's house and statements made that morning.
Sallyport surveillance footage from the camera facing the right rear taillight area of Read's SUV on January 29, 2022. The recording contains a 42-minute gap from approximately 5:07 to 5:50 p.m., covering the precise window during which the vehicle was in police custody.
Canton PD sallyport surveillance recording from February 1, 2022, capturing the State Police execution of a search warrant on Read's vehicle, including the removal of the taillight by Officer Wanless.
Flash drive containing Canton PD exterior surveillance footage from four camera angles — rear lot main side, rear lot cruiser side, church side exterior sallyport, and first floor corridor — dated January 29, 2022, beginning around 1:27 a.m. The footage captures Brian Higgins arriving in his Jeep Wrangler, entering the building, using a phone at 1:34 a.m., accessing multiple vehicles, and departing around 1:45 a.m.
A disc containing crime scene photographs of Karen Read's vehicle interior and exterior at Canton PD and the scene at 34 Fairview Road, taken on February 1, 2022. Individual photographs from the disc, including an image of the bumper with evidence stickers, were displayed at trial.
Dashcam footage from three Canton PD vehicles, referenced during the testimony of Paul Gallagher in Trial 2.
Four Trial 1 photographs taken in the Canton PD sallyport showing red Solo cups containing blood evidence inside a Stop & Shop grocery bag, positioned near the right rear quarter panel of Karen Read's SUV.
Text messages between Trooper Michael Proctor and Canton Police Officer Galanis in which Proctor sought investigative assistance regarding surveillance cameras near the high school, despite Canton PD having been recused from the case. Proctor never followed up on or documented the resulting lead.
Audio recording of Kerry Roberts's 911 call to Canton police at approximately 5 AM on January 29, 2022, reporting O'Keefe's disappearance.
Audio recording of Kerry Roberts's call to the Canton police non-emergency line, corroborating Roberts's account of the search timeline and her level of concern.
A running journal of Canton Police Department activity for the shift on January 29, 2022, created by Officer Kelly Dever.
A CARS (crime scene documentation) report recording the search performed at 34 Fairview Road, including drone imagery captured by the CARS team using a DJI Mavic 2 drone.
A report documenting the August 9, 2023 interview of Canton PD dispatch officer Kelly Dever by a separate law enforcement agency, recording her account of observing Higgins and Berkowitz in the sallyport with Read's vehicle and disclosing her friendship with Sarah Levinson.
Security monitors in the Canton PD dispatch room showing internal camera feeds, including views of sallyport activity.
Grand jury testimony of Canton Police Officer Steven Saraf given April 14, 2022, concerning the events surrounding the discovery of John O'Keefe's body.
Federal civil lawsuit filed by the Lalo brothers against Canton Police Sgt. Michael Lank arising from a 2002 physical altercation, which resulted in a settlement with a non-disclosure agreement.
Transcript of Canton Police Lt. Kevin O'Hara's Trial 1 testimony from June 2024.
Grand jury transcript of Canton Police Lt. Kevin O'Hara's testimony from May 5, 2022.
Photograph of Chris Albert with former Canton Police Chief Kenneth Berkowitz, taken at Albert's selectman campaign fundraiser.
Canton PD sallyport surveillance recording from January 1, 2022, predating the incident by 28 days.
Canton PD sallyport footage from the front wall camera for January 29, 2022. The original recording was dark; an enhanced version was subsequently produced and played for the jury.
Canton PD exterior sallyport surveillance showing the tow truck arriving with Read's Lexus SUV.
Canton PD driveway surveillance depicting the arrival of a tow truck followed by Bukhenik's pickup truck.
A still photograph from the opposite sallyport camera showing Read's SUV, an antique police cruiser, and an unidentified person, timestamped approximately 11:08 a.m. on January 30, 2022.
Videos recording exterior and interior testing of Read's vehicle at Canton PD, memorializing acceleration and braking tests and a visibility analysis of functional backup cameras and proximity sensors.
Photograph of Karen Read's vehicle taken in the Canton PD sallyport. A Stop and Shop grocery bag is visible near the vehicle.
Photograph of Karen Read's SUV in the Canton PD sallyport showing the license plate and broken tail light area. A white rag or paper towel is visible on the ground nearby.
Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive