Minneapolis Police Chief Resigns Amid Investigation

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara has resigned following an internal investigation into his conduct, Mayor Jacob Frey announced Tuesday. The investigation found that O'Hara interfered with a prior probe into allegations of intimate relationships with city employees, though those allegations were not substantiated. Frey said O'Hara deleted a contact card from his city-issued phone and disclosed the investigation to another employee, actions that constituted a breach of trust. The mayor had threatened disciplinary action, including possible termination, prompting O'Hara's resignation. Frey emphasized that trust is fundamental to the role of police chief. The city still has 17 open complaints against O'Hara, which will continue to be investigated. O'Hara, who became chief in 2022, was hired to oversee reforms following the killing of George Floyd. Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell has been named acting chief. Frey had re-nominated O'Hara earlier this month, calling him the right leader for the moment. The resignation comes amid ongoing efforts to rebuild the police force and implement federal reforms.