Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has resigned after an internal investigation found that he interfered with a misconduct probe tied to allegations involving inappropriate relationships with city employees.
Mayor Jacob Frey announced the resignation, saying the issue came down to trust and accountability inside the police department.
The original complaint reportedly alleged that O’Hara had engaged in sexual relationships with city employees.
Officials said that underlying allegation was not substantiated.
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However, a later review found that O’Hara took actions that compromised the integrity of the investigation.
According to the findings, he deleted a contact from a city-issued phone that investigators considered relevant to the inquiry.
The review also found that he communicated about the investigation with people he had been instructed not to contact.
Investigators said O’Hara had been explicitly told not to discuss the matter with city employees but did so anyway.
Frey said O’Hara was informed that discipline, including possible termination, was being considered before he chose to resign.
“Everyone makes mistakes, including me, but what I can’t allow is a breach of trust,” Frey said, arguing that public confidence is essential for a police chief.
The resignation immediately sparked political fallout at Minneapolis City Hall.
City Council President Elliott Payne criticized the mayor’s handling of the situation and said it was a serious error to move forward with O’Hara’s renomination while investigations were still ongoing.
Other council members also raised concerns about transparency, oversight and accountability in the city’s public safety leadership.
Frey later said the outcome of the investigation changed his view and that he would not have supported O’Hara’s nomination had the findings been known earlier.
O’Hara, a former Newark public safety official, became Minneapolis police chief in 2022.
He took over during a difficult period for the department, which has continued to face staffing shortages, reform pressure and intense scrutiny following the 2020 murder of George Floyd.
Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell will serve as interim chief while the city works through the transition.
Officials have not yet announced a timeline for selecting a permanent replacement.
Why It Matters
The resignation adds another layer of instability to a police department already under heavy public scrutiny. Even though the original sexual allegations were not substantiated, city officials concluded that interference with the investigation created a serious breach of trust.
What Comes Next
Minneapolis officials will need to select a permanent police chief while managing renewed questions about oversight, internal accountability and public confidence in the department.
A related clip showed Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara addressing the controversy before his resignation following findings that he interfered with an internal investigation.
🚨 IT’S OFFICIAL: Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has RESIGNED amid a sexual scandal, he reportedly COVERED IT UP during an investigation, got caught and resigned
Now he’s replaced with liberal woman Katie Blackwell. Not an upgrade AT ALL
MINNEAPOLIS IS COOKED.
Mayor… pic.twitter.com/NuJ2sdbYMX
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 27, 2026
