Sgt. Sean Goode has resigned from the Canton Police Department, effective June 2, town officials confirmed Wednesday. The 18-year veteran had been on paid administrative leave since November, after allegations first surfaced in late October, and town officials say his exit will not stop an ongoing outside internal affairs investigation.
Town Says Probe Will Continue
In a statement to NBC10 Boston, the town said that "Massachusetts personnel and privacy laws limit what may be publicly shared regarding employment matters" and declined to elaborate. Officials added that when the independent investigation wraps up, the findings will be sent to the town and to the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST).
Goode Had a Role in the High-Profile Read Case
Goode, an 18-year department veteran, previously took the stand during the first trial of Karen Read to describe his role responding the night Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe was found, according to WHDH. Read was later acquitted at her retrial in June 2025, a verdict reported by outlets including KTVU.
Audit Earlier Flagged Evidence-Handling Lapses
An independent audit of the Canton Police Department released in April 2025 found a series of procedural missteps, including officers using red Solo cups and a leaf blower at the scene and failing to photograph the body before it was moved. The report recommended training, equipment updates and procedural changes, while concluding it found no evidence of a deliberate cover-up. The audit, commissioned after criticism of how the O'Keefe case was handled, led to a town presentation and follow-up reforms, CBS Boston reported.
Administrative Leave, Outside Review Continue
The town placed Goode on paid administrative leave in early November 2025 after the October disclosure, according to WCVB. Town officials told NBC10 Boston that his resignation "does not alter the completion of this investigation" and that the investigator's report will still be forwarded to the POST commission.
State Oversight Could Follow
If substantiated, internal affairs findings can be sent to the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, which oversees officer certification and can suspend or revoke a certificate, according to the commission's site. The POST process allows for public complaints and agency notifications, and the commission can either open an immediate review or wait for the agency's internal probe to finish, per the POST commission.
