Minneapolis police chief resigns amid allegations of interference in misconduct investigation related to his actions.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has resigned amid allegations that he interfered with an investigation into possibly inappropriate relationships with city employees. Mayor Jacob Frey announced O’Hara’s resignation at a news conference on Tuesday, stating that the chief’s conduct, as indicated by an external investigation, amounted to serious misconduct.

The decision for O’Hara to step down followed a written reprimand from Mayor Frey, who indicated that the chief had been made aware that disciplinary actions could extend up to termination. In a message directed to the police department, Frey confirmed his acceptance of O’Hara’s resignation, attributing it to the ongoing investigation’s findings.

Documents related to the investigation, which were reviewed by Media News Source, suggest that O’Hara hindered the inquiry led by the law firm Forsgren Fisher by deleting a personal contact from his cell phone, linked to one of the employees allegedly involved. While the law firm’s investigation concluded that the claims regarding sexually intimate relationships were not substantiated, it did find evidence indicating O’Hara’s interference with the probe. Furthermore, it was revealed that he discussed the ongoing investigation with at least one city employee, despite being instructed to maintain confidentiality.

In his letter to police department employees, Mayor Frey emphasized the importance of trust in the police chief’s role, stating that O’Hara’s actions represented a significant breach of that trust. Frey noted that the department is working diligently to rebuild its relationship with the community and that such behavior demonstrated poor judgment and a lack of integrity necessary for effective leadership.

Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell has been appointed as the interim police chief following O’Hara’s resignation. The investigation was initiated in response to an anonymous complaint received in 2024. O’Hara was notified of the investigation on May 1, 2025, when he met with Mayor Frey and Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette. During that meeting, he expressed particular concern when informed that his city-issued phone would need to be imaged for evidence.

An initial imaging of O’Hara’s phone was compromised due to security complications, leading to a second imaging session on May 7, 2025. Investigators later discovered a recording where a city employee discussed the chief’s phone being taken and inquired about a text message he allegedly sent. This recording indicated O’Hara may have disclosed sensitive information about the investigation, which he was instructed to keep confidential.

Though O’Hara initially denied having contacted the implicated employee, he later acknowledged sending her a text message to connect her with another city worker. A comparison of the imagery findings revealed that the contact card for the employee in question had been deleted from O’Hara’s work phone, despite appearing during the first imaging session. This deletion stood out among the 600 contacts on the chief’s phone, leading investigators to consider it revealing evidence of a potentially improper connection.

The involved employee stated that she received messages from O’Hara’s personal phone but denied any sexual relationship with him. The investigation ultimately found no supporting evidence for the allegations of a sexual relationship.

The situation highlights ongoing challenges within the Minneapolis Police Department, as city officials aim to ensure accountability and trust in leadership during particularly scrutinized times.