Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara Resigns Amid Investigation

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara resigned after interfering with an investigation into his conduct, including allegations of intimate relationships with city employees and evidence tampering, as announced by Mayor Jacob Frey. O'Hara, hired in 2022 to oversee reforms following George Floyd’s killing, deleted a contact card from his city-issued phone and disclosed the investigation despite being instructed to keep it quiet. Seventeen other complaints against him remain under investigation. Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell will lead the department during the search for a new chief. The resignation comes amid ongoing police reform efforts, including a federal agreement to overhaul training and use-of-force policies, which was later canceled under the Trump administration. O'Hara had also criticized federal immigration tactics in December after a controversial arrest.

The city faces a challenging leadership transition amidst community concerns over trust and reform. O'Hara’s resignation was seen as necessary to maintain public trust, according to Mayor Frey, who emphasized that trust is fundamental to the role.

O'Hara did not comment on the allegations. The Associated Press obtained a written reprimand detailing the interference. The department’s response to the Annunciation Catholic School shooting and federal immigration crackdowns had drawn scrutiny.

O'Hara’s unique_identifier is based on his role and the year of the article for database consistency.