Minneapolis Police Chief Resigns After Probe Finds He Interfered With Investigation, Mayor Says
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara stepped down from his post Tuesday after an external investigation concluded that he interfered with a probe into complaints about his conduct, according to Mayor Jacob Frey.
Frey said the controversy began with an anonymous complaint received last year alleging that O’Hara — who took the helm of the department in November 2022 — had engaged in sexually intimate relationships with city employees. An outside investigation was launched, and extensive interviews were conducted. Months ago, that probe wrapped up with a finding that the allegations were not substantiated, the mayor explained.
“Those allegations remain not substantiated,” Frey stressed. “However, today I received a report of findings from an additional investigation that showed Chief O'Hara interfered with the investigation process.” Specifically, investigators determined that he intentionally deleted a contact card for an individual from his city-issued cell phone during the original inquiry, in what they described as an attempt to shield evidence of his connection to that person. Furthermore, despite being told not to discuss the investigation with anyone, he informed another city employee that his city phone had been taken for the investigation.
While the interference did not change the ultimate conclusion that the relationship allegations were unsubstantiated, Frey called the misconduct “a breach of trust.” He informed O’Hara that he would be disciplined up to and including discharge, at which point the chief resigned. “I have accepted his resignation,” Frey said, describing the move as “an extremely painful decision.”
O’Hara’s tenure was marked by high-profile events including the shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and the federal immigration enforcement operation dubbed Operation Metro Surge earlier this year. He also led the department during a period of intense scrutiny and reform efforts following the murder of George Floyd, including an overhaul of training and use-of-force policies.
“Everyone makes mistakes, including me,” Frey said. “But what I can't allow is a breach of trust. When you serve as chief of the Minneapolis Police Department, trust is not secondary to the job — it is the job.” He added that effective leadership becomes nearly impossible when trust is compromised, and emphasized that the department has worked hard to rebuild credibility with the community and within its own ranks. “Our staff and residents need to know that they can trust not just the department, but also the person leading it.”
Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell will assume the role of interim chief, Frey announced.
The mayor’s office confirmed that 17 additional complaints against O’Hara remain open — separate from the investigation that led to his resignation — and will continue to be investigated. Spokesperson Jennifer Lor declined to comment on the nature of those complaints.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.