Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara resigned Tuesday, less than three weeks after Mayor Jacob Frey re-nominated him for a second four-year term, following the release of an investigation report that found O’Hara had interfered with an internal inquiry.
Calling it an “extremely difficult” announcement, Frey said at a press conference Tuesday night that last year his office received an anonymous complaint that the chief had engaged in sexual relationships with city employees. An outside investigation was conducted, with the allegations against O’Hara being cleared at its conclusion. 
However, the matter did not end there. A subsequent report from an additional investigation showed O’Hara had interfered with the process, accusing him of deleting a contact in his city-issued cellphone that was then hidden from investigators in an attempt to “shield himself.” 
Frey said that although the initial allegations were proven false, the interference in the process was a “breach of trust.” His office accepted a resignation from O’Hara after he had been informed he would face discipline, which included the potential of being discharged. 
The development blindsided many observers. Frey had publicly backed O’Hara’s re-nomination as recently as May 8, and the chief had been repeatedly featured in national media outlets, received a standing ovation at a recent National League of Cities meeting in Washington and garnered big applause at a Timberwolves game. 
Frey acknowledged O’Hara’s record before announcing his resignation. In “many respects he has been successful in his role as chief,” Frey said, before noting the “breach of trust” born from the investigation results. 
O’Hara took over the position from Medaria Arradondo, who was chief of the Minneapolis Police Department when George Floyd was murdered on May 25, 2020. Amelia Huffman served an interim stint before O’Hara took over  in November 2022.
During his tenure, O’Hara oversaw a meaningful reduction in serious crime. In 2025, Minneapolis saw 64 homicides, down 33% from the recent pandemic high in 2021, the year before O’Hara was hired. 
His time in office was not without friction, however. Council members’ frustration boiled over in December when the Minneapolis Police Department went over budget by nearly $20 million, and then intensified when his department blew through its annual overtime allotment within weeks as 1,000 days off were canceled and officers stood at the ready during Operation Metro Surge.  Some groups also said he should have done more to intervene during the increased presence of federal agents, and that his department poorly handled the shooting of Davis Moturi. 
Frey said that in the interim, Assistant Minneapolis Police Chief Katie Blackwell would step into the role. 
O’Hara did not make a public statement Tuesday. The Minneapolis Police Department has not released additional comment on the investigation findings.
This is a developing story.
