Will Brian Williams and the MSP Union Stand Behind the “Thick Blue Wall” This Time?

Ever since Brian Williams became president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts in late 2023, the Massachusetts State Police have been hit with controversy after controversy.

From the Karen Read case and Michael Proctor’s text message scandal to the death of recruit Enrique Delgado-Garcia at the MSP Academy, Williams has found himself leading the union during one of the most publicly scrutinized periods in modern Massachusetts law enforcement history.

Williams, a longtime Massachusetts State Trooper and attorney, stepped into the role as public trust in the MSP was already under pressure. But nobody could have predicted just how quickly things would spiral.

Then came the Karen Read trial.

Supporters of Karen Read gather outside Norfolk Superior Court awaiting the verdict. Read was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges on June 18, 2025. Photo by LTL Media

As the case exploded nationally, lead investigator Michael Proctor became one of the most controversial figures in the country after jurors saw vulgar text messages he sent during the investigation into John O’Keefe’s death.

The messages fueled allegations that the investigation was biased from the beginning and became a major problem for prosecutors.

But according to Read’s attorneys, what was allegedly found on Proctor’s phone went far beyond inappropriate comments.

Photo by NBC News

One attorney described the former trooper’s cellphone communications as:

“Staggeringly anti-woman, racist, homophobic, antisemitic, among other things.”

But eventually, the union changed course and Proctor was terminated.

Williams later released a statement announcing the State Police Association of Massachusetts was completely severing support for Proctor’s appeal.

That statement raised major questions.

What exactly was found on Proctor’s phone that made even the union walk away?

Because police unions are not exactly known for abandoning officers once they publicly commit to supporting them.

Now Williams finds himself in another massive controversy — the death of recruit Enrique Delgado-Garcia.

Delgado-Garcia died after suffering catastrophic injuries during a boxing training exercise at the Massachusetts State Police Academy. The incident triggered outrage across Massachusetts and renewed questions about academy culture, supervision, and whether dangerous training practices had been allowed to continue for years.

Eventually, four troopers were criminally charged. Lieutenant Jennifer Penton (also charged with perjury), Trooper Edwin Rodriguez, Trooper David Montanez and Trooper Casey LaMonte. They were indicted by a grand jury and each charged with involuntary manslaughter and causing serious bodily injury.

This time, Williams and the union are standing firmly behind the accused troopers.

Following court proceedings, Williams released a statement defending them and criticizing what he described as an inaccurate public narrative surrounding the case.

Williams outside Worcester Superior Court on May 7th making statements in support of Trooper Casey LaMonte and the three other troopers accused in the death of Enrique Delgado-Garcia. Photo by LTL Media

“The death of Trooper Delgado-Garcia was a tragedy, but the narrative to date remains shaped by incomplete and inaccurate information. The association stands firmly by its original position that the evidence does not support these charges.”

Williams also stated:

“Accountability must be grounded in a strict adherence to the facts, not driven by public pressure or incomplete and inaccurate information.”

And he made clear the union intends to continue supporting the charged troopers moving forward.

“They maintain the presumption of innocence, and we are confident that this innocence will be upheld at the conclusion of these proceedings.”

But that raises the bigger question.

Will this eventually play out the same way it did with Michael Proctor?

Because with Proctor, the union stood behind him — until the pressure intensified and more evidence allegedly surfaced from his phone. Then SPAM walked away completely.

Could the same thing happen here?

The Delgado-Garcia case is not a small investigation. Prosecutors have reportedly referenced roughly 150 witnesses and more than 350 pieces of discovery. That kind of evidence can tell a very detailed story about what happened inside that academy, who knew what, what the culture looked like behind closed doors, and whether this was truly a tragic accident or something much more serious.

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Right now, Williams is standing firmly behind the four accused troopers.

But the real test may come once the public starts seeing the evidence.

If discovery paints a far darker picture than the union is suggesting today, will the State Police Association continue standing behind all four troopers?

Or will there eventually come a point — just like with Proctor — where the controversy becomes too damaging and the union walks away?

Either way, Brian Williams now finds himself leading the MSP union through two of the biggest law enforcement controversies Massachusetts has seen in years.

And whether people agree with him or not, his presidency is now directly tied to some of the most controversial moments in modern Massachusetts State Police history.