Minneapolis mayor announces resignation of police chief after misconduct investigation

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced the resignation of Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara after an internal investigation into misconduct.

During a Tuesday news conference, Frey alleged that O’Hara attempted to throw a wrench into a prior investigation that included allegations he had “engaged in sexual intimate relationships” with city employees. He added he “intentionally” deleted a contact card for a city employee from his work cell phone. The move, to hide evidence from the investigator, Frey added.

“Interference with the investigation risked the integrity of the investigation and constitutes a significant breach of trust,” Frey said of O’Hara.

O’Hara was recently re-nominated as police chief by Frey himself, saying he was the right leader. O’Hara led the city through President Donald Trump’s crime crackdown and the uptick in ICE officers in the city. They also faced recent fraud raids led by federal officials. O’Hara was brought on to the Minneapolis police force shortly after the Black Lives Matter movement in the city.

Frey announced Assistant Police Chief Katie Blackwell as the acting police chief of Minneapolis, effective immediately.

“Trust is not secondary to the job; it is the job,” Frey said. “When trust is broken, it becomes extremely difficult to continue leading effectively.”