by Ben Whedon
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara on Tuesday resigned from his post after an investigation found that he maintained sexual relationships with public employees.
Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed O’Hara’s resignation in a press conference, saying “when you serve as chief of the Minneapolis Police Department, trust is not secondary to the job, it is the job. When trust is broken, it becomes extremely difficult to continue leading effectively.”
According to the Alpha News, Mayor Jacob Frey sent a letter of reprimand regarding his conduct.
“[Minneapolis Police Department] is working diligently to re-establish trust with the community, and the MPD Chief of Police is held to a high standard. As Chief of Police of this police department, trust matters immensely. It is not secondary to the job– it is the job,” Frey said.
“Your behavior, as substantiated by the investigation, demonstrates poor judgment, is inconsistent with the level of integrity this role requires, and has made it extraordinarily difficult for you to continue effectively in your role. Your behavior, as substantiated by the investigation, is unacceptable and merits this disciplinary action,” he added.
Assistant Police Chief Katie Blackwell will assume the chief’s duties in an acting capacity.
O’Hara has held the post since 2022. His tenure coincided with considerable civil unrest in the city, especially amid President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in the area. Minneapolis is also facing large-scale investigations into misuse of public funds and federal fraud.
Minneapolis currently boasts one of the highest crime rates in the nation. Local authorities have reported nearly 2,400 motor vehicle thefts in 2026 alone.
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Ben Whedon is a reporter for Just the News. Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network and contributed to this story.
Photo “Brian O’Hara” by Chad Davis. CC BY 2.0.
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