Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara resigned on Tuesday after an investigation found he tampered with a probe into allegations of sexual misconduct. Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed O’Hara's resignation during a press conference, stating that he would have faced disciplinary action, including potential discharge, due to the investigation's findings.
Frey remarked that the decision was painful, emphasizing the importance of trust in leadership. The investigation initially looked into allegations of O’Hara having sexual relationships with city employees but could not substantiate those claims. However, a subsequent report indicated that O’Hara deleted a contact from his phone to obscure his connection to a witness in the investigation and discussed the probe with a city employee against confidentiality instructions.
Frey's office noted that there are still 17 open complaints against O’Hara unrelated to the investigation that led to his resignation. In a letter addressing the findings, Frey described O’Hara’s actions as a significant breach of trust. O’Hara had been nominated for a second term just weeks prior to his resignation. Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell will serve as the interim police chief following O’Hara's departure.