Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara resigned Tuesday after Mayor Jacob Frey announced the chief had interfered with an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct within the department. Frey said the interference undermined the integrity of the probe and left him no choice but to call for O'Hara's departure.
The mayor stated that concerns arose over whether the investigation into the misconduct allegations had been tampered with, calling the situation a breach of public trust. O'Hara, who took the helm of the Minneapolis Police Department in 2022, did not immediately release a public statement upon his resignation.
The resignation adds to a turbulent chapter for a department that has been operating under a federal consent decree following the 2020 murder of George Floyd by then-officer Derek Chauvin. Reform advocates and city officials have been closely watching leadership decisions at the department as it works to implement court-mandated changes.
City officials are expected to begin a search for interim leadership while a broader transition plan is developed. No timeline has been announced for naming a permanent replacement. The investigation into the underlying misconduct allegations is expected to continue independently of the chief's departure.
Left-Leaning Emphasis
- NBC News frames the resignation within the broader context of ongoing police reform efforts and the department's federal consent decree stemming from the George Floyd case.
- NBC News emphasizes the mayor's active role in demanding accountability from department leadership.
Right-Leaning Emphasis
- Fox News and the Washington Examiner lead with the chief's alleged interference and the integrity concerns around the misconduct probe, framing it as an institutional failure.
- Washington Examiner uses the word 'tampered' in describing concerns about the investigation, applying stronger language around potential obstruction than other outlets.