Minneapolis police chief Brian O'Hara resigns
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Minneapolis police chief Brian O'Hara at an April press conference. Photo: Kyle Stokes/Axios
Minneapolis police chief Brian O'Hara resigned Tuesday after an outside investigator concluded he interfered with an internal investigation into allegations about his workplace conduct, Mayor Jacob Frey announced.
Why it matters: O'Hara's departure comes as Minneapolis police continue to navigate a monumental, court-ordered reform process and rebuild their depleted ranks amid a leadership shake-up.
- Assistant MPD chief Katie Blackwell will serve as acting chief effective immediately, Frey said.
What they're saying: "Your behavior, as substantiated by the investigation, demonstrates poor judgment, is inconsistent with the level of integrity this role requires, and has made it extraordinarily difficult for you to continue effectively in your role," Frey wrote to O'Hara in a reprimand letter.
- Axios obtained the letter and a copy of the investigator's report through a public records request.
What we know: In 2025, the city hired an outside law firm to investigate allegations that O'Hara had an inappropriate relationship with a city employee.
- Investigators found "insufficient evidence" to support the allegations of an inappropriate relationship, and a follow-up report delivered to Frey Tuesday morning reaffirmed that finding.
- But investigators' follow-up report concluded that during their 2025 inquiry, O'Hara had deleted a witness's contact card from his city-issued cell phone "in an attempt to shield that evidence of his connection to the witness."
What happened: Frey told reporters that, on Tuesday afternoon, he told O'Hara he would face disciplinary action "up to and including discharge," and he resigned.
Catch up quick: Minneapolis hired O'Hara, a New Jersey native, in 2022 for his background overseeing a similar court-ordered police reform process in the city of Newark.
- O'Hara won early praise from rank-and-file MPD officers and told Axios in 2024 he made a point of being visible and accessible at crime scenes.
- During Operation Metro Surge, the chief publicly railed against the tactics of federal agents, which he characterized as ill-conceived, even as critics charged that MPD did too little to intervene.
The big picture: O'Hara's resignation comes as the future of the city's broader public safety leadership structure is also in flux. Community safety commissioner Todd Barnette currently lacks the council support needed to remain in his role.
Friction points: Even before Tuesday's revelations, O'Hara had been struggling to win City Council support for reappointment to a new term.
- Several council members questioned his failure to keep MPD's budget in check and the department's handling of several high-profile cases.
"It was a massive error in judgment for Mayor Frey to nominate Chief O'Hara [for a new term] while there were active investigations into very serious accusations that had been rumored for months," City Council President Elliott Payne wrote in a Bluesky post.
- Payne added that it was "another indictment" of Barnette's leadership.
What's next: During Tuesday's news conference, Frey also said Barnette "continues to have my full support" and said Blackwell is "up for the job."
- O'Hara has been the subject of multiple employee complaints about his conduct, as the Star Tribune has reported, and 17 such complaints remain open and will continue to be reviewed, the mayor's office said.