Massachusetts Jury Awards $6.8M in Discrimination Case Against State Police

Jury Finds Longstanding Bias in Hiring and Promotions

Boston — A Suffolk County jury has ordered the Massachusetts State Police to pay $6.8 million after finding that the agency discriminated against female and minority troopers. The verdict, confirmed Nov. 18 by a Superior Court clerk, concludes a years-long case that accused the department of blocking women and people of color from advancing through the ranks.

The 2016 lawsuit said agency leadership allowed a biased system for hiring and promotions, one that gave white male candidates an advantage even when they were less qualified or had deeper disciplinary records.

Claims of a Rigged Process

The plaintiffs, a group of current and former troopers that included women, Black officers, and Hispanic officers, said the State Police routinely filled desirable jobs before they were publicly posted. Their suit argued this practice “prevent[ed] many from obtaining choice assignments throughout the department.”

According to the filing, employees who were not white men were repeatedly passed over for promotions. In some cases, the promotions went to candidates with documented disciplinary problems. The lawsuit described this as a “pattern of discriminatory practices” that functionally shut out women and minority officers.

The plaintiffs also pointed to data showing how limited diversity in the force had become. As of September 2018, only about 5 percent of State Police troopers were women, and just under 10 percent were minorities. The complaint said leaders had “created, maintained, and enforced substantial headwinds that fly against the possibility of having a diverse force.”

State Police Responds to the Verdict

In a statement issued Nov. 18, the State Police said it has reformed its operations and remains committed to improving diversity and fairness. The agency said it is now focused on building a department “at every rank that reflects the communities we serve.”

“We continue to implement promotional processes that align the Department with national best practices and strengthen our workforce by elevating candidates who not only possess the necessary skills and experience, but also uphold the values essential to delivering excellent police services,” the agency said.

The statement did not address specific findings from the jury but emphasized recent reforms and modernization efforts.

A Department Under Scrutiny

The verdict arrives during a period of intense public scrutiny for the State Police. The agency has faced a series of scandals in recent years, including an overtime fraud scheme that implicated dozens of current and retired troopers.

The force again drew national attention when Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the high-profile Karen Read case, was fired after a disciplinary board found he had sent sexist and crude text messages about her to colleagues and family members.

In another case earlier this year, a former State Police sergeant was convicted of accepting bribes—including a snowblower and a driveway—in exchange for giving passing scores on commercial driving tests.

After the Verdict

The $6.8 million award marks one of the more significant discrimination verdicts against a law enforcement agency in Massachusetts. It remains unclear whether the State Police will appeal.

For the plaintiffs, the decision represents a formal acknowledgment of a system they say sidelined them for years. For the State Police, it adds to a growing list of controversies shaping the department’s efforts to rebuild public trust.