Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara resigned after an internal investigation concluded he interfered with a probe into allegations regarding his conduct with city employees. Mayor Jacob Frey announced the resignation Tuesday evening and named Assistant Police Chief Katie Blackwell as acting chief.
What happened
The city’s internal investigation found that O’Hara “knowingly and intentionally” deleted a contact card from his city-issued phone to shield evidence of a relationship with a city employee during the investigation. Although the original allegations of inappropriate relationships were not substantiated, Frey stated that O’Hara’s interference compromised the integrity of the investigation and breached public trust.
In a written reprimand, Mayor Frey emphasized that trust is fundamental to the role of police chief, saying, “When trust is broken, it becomes extremely difficult to continue leading effectively.” O’Hara, first sworn in as chief in November 2022, had been focused on rebuilding the Minneapolis Police Department’s depleted ranks.
Why it matters
The resignation follows months of scrutiny over the police department’s management and O’Hara’s leadership, including multiple complaints and criticism from city council members and community activists regarding transparency and oversight. The disruption at the department comes amid ongoing debates about policing strategies and public safety in Minneapolis.
City Council President Elliott Payne criticized Mayor Frey’s recent decision to renominate O’Hara amid active investigations, citing it as poor judgment and a failure to prioritize accountability. The leadership change raises questions about the future direction of Minneapolis policing amid tensions over budget use, police-community relations, and ongoing demands for reform.
Background
Brian O’Hara, 47, joined Minneapolis PD as chief in late 2022, bringing previous experience as a Newark police officer, public safety director, and deputy mayor. He was re-nominated by Mayor Frey earlier in May despite rumors of ongoing internal investigations.
During O’Hara’s tenure, the department faced criticism for excessive overtime spending and the handling of immigration enforcement operations. Data show that as of early April, 30 complaints had been filed against him, with most still unresolved. Details of these complaints remain confidential.
With O’Hara’s resignation, Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell assumes command of the department on an interim basis as Minneapolis seeks a permanent replacement amid calls for greater accountability in city policing leadership.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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