Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara Resigns After Investigation

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara resigned Tuesday following an internal investigation that found he interfered with a probe into his conduct, Mayor Jacob Frey announced. The investigation stemmed from anonymous allegations that O’Hara had engaged in sexual relationships with city employees, which were ultimately unsubstantiated. However, a subsequent inquiry revealed that O’Hara “knowingly and intentionally” deleted a contact card from his city-issued cellphone to shield evidence from investigators and discussed the investigation despite explicit instructions not to do so.

Mayor Frey said at a news conference, “Everyone makes mistakes, including me, 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. And when trust is broken, it becomes extremely difficult to continue leading effectively.” Frey added that although the interference did not change the outcome of the original investigation, it constituted a significant breach of trust and warranted disciplinary action. O’Hara chose to resign rather than face potential termination.

An investigative report showed that the contact card was present on O’Hara’s phone on May 1, 2025, but was deleted by May 7. It was the only contact card removed, and investigators found no technical reason for its disappearance. O’Hara denied deleting the contact during interviews in April and June. He was also found to have told a city employee that his phone had been taken as part of the investigation, violating instructions not to discuss the matter.

Assistant Police Chief Katie Blackwell has been named acting chief effective immediately. O’Hara had been sworn in as chief in November 2022, with a focus on rebuilding the police force. Earlier this month, Mayor Frey had re-nominated O’Hara as chief, calling him “the right leader for this moment.”

The resignation drew criticism from City Council members. Council President Elliott Payne said it was “a massive error in judgment” for the mayor to renominate O’Hara amid active investigations into serious accusations. Payne added, “This is what happens when you prioritize optics and political expediency over governance and accountability.” Council members Soren Stevenson and Jason Chavez echoed Payne’s concerns, with Chavez expressing hope that the mayor would collaborate with the council to find new leadership for the police department and the Office of Community Safety.

Frey’s renomination of Toddrick Barnette as commissioner of community safety was rejected by the City Council, but the mayor vetoed the rejection, leaving the appointment in a state of limbo. In April, some council members raised concerns about the Minneapolis Police Department’s spending, noting that during Operation Metro Surge, the department spent over $5 million—double its budgeted overtime amount. O’Hara also faced criticism from community members over his handling of the immigration enforcement operation.

According to city data, 30 complaints were filed against O’Hara during his tenure, with eight closed without discipline and 22 remaining open as of early April. O’Hara suggested that many complaints were related to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge. Details of these complaints are confidential and can be filed by anyone, regardless of residency.

O’Hara is a 47-year-old New Jersey native who began his career as a Newark police officer and served as public safety director and deputy mayor there before joining Minneapolis. He is married with two children living on the East Coast.