Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, who was appointed to implement reforms following the high-profile killing of George Floyd, has chosen to resign amid allegations of misconduct and interference with an ongoing investigation. Mayor Jacob Frey made the announcement on Tuesday, outlining the circumstances that led to O’Hara's departure.
During his tenure, O’Hara was at the forefront of local police operations during a significant federal immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. However, he was under investigation for allegedly engaging in inappropriate intimate relationships with employees within the city. While the specific allegations regarding these relationships were never substantiated, Frey indicated that the investigation revealed O'Hara's interference with the ongoing inquiry. O’Hara reportedly deleted a contact card from his city-issued cell phone, attempting to conceal evidence and discussed the investigation with another city employee after being instructed to keep the matter confidential.
As a consequence of these findings, Frey communicated to O’Hara that disciplinary action would be pursued, which could lead to his termination. In response to the impending disciplinary measures, O’Hara opted to resign from his position. Frey described this decision as "extremely painful" but deemed it necessary to uphold public trust and integrity within the police department. "Trust is not secondary to the job. It is the job," Frey emphasized.
Despite O’Hara's resignation, the mayor’s office indicated there are still 17 open complaints against him that are unrelated to the current investigation. These ongoing complaints will continue to be examined, though details about them remain undisclosed according to spokesperson Jennifer Lor. O’Hara did not respond to inquiries for comment following his resignation.
O’Hara took on the role of police chief in 2022, stepping into a department that was already under scrutiny due to national conversations about racism and police brutality—a dialogue that was fueled by the tragic death of George Floyd in May 2020. Floyd’s death at the hands of a white Minneapolis officer spurred widespread protests and calls for significant reforms in policing practices.
Last year, Minneapolis entered into a federal agreement aimed at overhauling police training and use-of-force policies as a direct consequence of Floyd’s murder. This agreement, however, was later canceled by the U.S. Department of Justice under the administration of then-President Donald Trump.
In addition to the controversies surrounding police practices, O’Hara managed the law enforcement response to the Annunciation Catholic School shooting that took place in August 2022. Additionally, he publicly criticized federal immigration enforcement tactics after a dramatic incident where an agent was recorded using excessive force against a woman during an arrest. This incident contributed to the scrutiny faced by Minneapolis police as the public questioned their role in relation to federal agents during heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
Following O’Hara’s resignation, Assistant Police Chief Katie Blackwell has assumed leadership of the department while the search for a new chief begins. This transition occurs during a period of ongoing challenges and public scrutiny for law enforcement in Minneapolis as the city continues to navigate its path forward in the wake of significant social and political upheaval.
