UMVA has learned that Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey accepted Police Chief Brian O’Hara’s resignation after investigators uncovered interference in a probe that questioned his conduct with city employees.
The investigation revealed that O’Hara deleted a contact from his city‑issued phone during the inquiry, a move seen as an attempt to hide evidence from review.
Mayor Frey described the act as a “breach of trust” that made it impossible for O’Hara to continue leading the department effectively.
At a press conference announcing the resignation, Frey said O’Hara had been warned he could face disciplinary action, including termination, before choosing to step down.
Frey also admitted he had recently nominated O’Hara for another four‑year term, but new information uncovered during the investigation altered that decision.
Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell has been named interim leader while the city searches for a permanent replacement, and Frey praised her capability to steer the department through this transition.
The resignation comes at a pivotal moment for Minneapolis policing, a period already marked by national scrutiny over the department’s stance on federal immigration enforcement.
Earlier this year, O’Hara publicly declared that local officers must intervene if they witness unlawful or excessive force by federal agents, threatening termination for those who do not.
He later clarified that officers could intervene physically but would stop short of arresting ICE agents, a stance that sparked debate about the limits of local authority during federal operations.
The controversy highlighted the gray area between “unlawful” and “excessive” force and the role of local police when federal agents conduct immigration enforcement within city limits.
The resignation leaves Minneapolis once again searching for police leadership as the department continues to implement reform measures under state and federal oversight.
