Minneapolis Police Chief Resigns Amid Investigation Findings

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has stepped down following allegations of interference in an investigation concerning his behavior, as reported by Mayor Jacob Frey. O’Hara, who had been leading the department since November 2022, faced scrutiny last year due to an anonymous complaint suggesting he may have had a sexual relationship with a city employee.

During a press conference, Frey stated that an external investigation was launched, with numerous interviews conducted, ultimately concluding months ago that the allegations were unsubstantiated. “These allegations remain unsubstantiated,” he emphasized. However, a subsequent report indicated that O’Hara had obstructed the investigation. This included deleting a contact card related to the employee in question from his official cellphone and misleading other city staff about the investigation’s status.

Frey noted, “Although the interference didn’t affect the original investigation’s outcome, it constitutes a breach of trust.” In response to these findings, Frey communicated to O’Hara that disciplinary action was imminent, leading to the chief’s resignation, which Frey described as a profoundly difficult choice.

The mayor appointed Deputy Chief Katie Blackwell to take over O’Hara’s position. O’Hara previously had a controversial tenure, including events like the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting and federal immigration operations earlier this year.

Frey addressed the significance of trust in policing, stating, “Everyone makes mistakes, but a betrayal of trust is simply unacceptable.” He stressed that trust is integral to the role of police leadership and necessary for effective community engagement and support.

Beyond the recent investigation, there remain 17 additional unresolved complaints against O’Hara, which the city plans to continue probing, according to Jennifer Roe from the mayor’s office.