Depending on what a jury decides, Sundberg's colleagues could also face judgment: Did troopers trained to serve and protect all ignore a domestic violence victim's suffering, even though she, too, was one of their own?

Extremely, judging by recent developments. And he won't be the only one on trial. His defense attorney promises to do his best to take down Sundberg's alleged victim — the partner and fellow trooper he allegedly brutalized.

The trooper stands accused of years of physical, verbal, and sexual abuse starting in 2010 and culminating in his rape and assault of the woman in April. Documents unsealed this week paint a disturbing picture of Sundberg's conduct, even beyond the crimes of which he is accused. The Middlesex prosecutor alleges that the accused was out of control both before and after his arrest.

They said he was frequently drunk and claimed he drank even on duty, texting friends pictures of portable breathalyzer test results showing him over the legal limit. They say he intimidated his victim to prevent her from reporting the abuse earlier, and played on her sympathy, saying he would lose his ability to provide for his children if she did so.


When she threatened to report him, even making a call to police a few months before his arrest, he allegedly threatened her: "Calling sarge on me, that was your last mistake," he texted. And, "im going to take you both out at once."

In text messages to others after his arrest, prosecutors allege, Sundberg threatened to "bury" the victim and to have her children taken away from her. They say he also reached out to friends to help fabricate a cover story.

It's pretty damning stuff. Sundberg denies every atom of it.


The trooper has changed attorneys since his dangerousness hearing in the spring, replacing union lawyer Richard Rafferty, who mercilessly grilled the victim on the stand, with attorney Ed Ryan Jr., who seems set to take the same approach.

In an interview on Wednesday, Ryan, who represented Jared Remy as he pled guilty to a horrific domestic violence murder, said, "We contend that all of these allegations are false." He added: "This woman has a history of making detailed false statements and dissembling when it suits her purpose or fancy." Though prosecutors contend Sundberg was controlling and jealous, Ryan said the alleged victim has been acting out as "a woman scorned."

"We're going to defend the case, and part of that in large measure is [questioning] her credibility," he said.

If Ryan fails, Sundberg faces at least five years in prison. And State Police will face some big questions.

A half-dozen of his colleagues turned out to support Sundberg at his dangerousness hearing in April, some speaking to his good character. One trooper testified that he'd seen Sundberg punch through his girlfriend's car window during an argument, but that he didn't report it because "we were all pretty intoxicated."

It's possible Sundberg abused his victim without a single colleague noticing. But if those colleagues knew of abuse and did nothing, that's a problem that goes way beyond this one case. Troopers are taught about the seriousness of domestic violence and their obligation to help victims get help. They must serve the public before all else, even if that means sharing their suspicion that a colleague has committed a crime.


"Troopers who understand the ideals, values, and expectations of this department will have no doubt that we have zero tolerance for domestic violence," said State Police spokesman Dave Procopio.

Sundberg's trial will show us just how deep that understanding goes and what those values mean to some who wear the uniform.

Globe columnist Yvonne Abraham can be reached at yvonne.abraham@globe.com.