The sudden resignation of Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has brought an abrupt end to a tenure that was already under intense scrutiny, adding another chapter to a controversy that has been building behind the scenes for more than a year.
O’Hara resigned this week rather than face potential disciplinary action that could have included termination, according to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. The decision followed the completion of an investigation that concluded O’Hara likely interfered with an official probe into allegations concerning his conduct.
The allegations themselves first surfaced in May 2025, when complaints were submitted claiming O’Hara had engaged in sexual relationships with city employees. At the time, the city launched an investigation led by a private investigator. According to Frey, numerous witnesses were interviewed and the claims ultimately could not be substantiated. The findings were released publicly during the summer of 2025, and the matter appeared closed.
That changed in May 2026 when a new investigation uncovered evidence suggesting O’Hara may have interfered with the original inquiry.
Mayor Jacob Frey held a press conference regarding Brian O’Hara’s resignation as Minneapolis police chief. pic.twitter.com/UboRksCnY7
— KSTP (@KSTP) May 27, 2026
Investigators reportedly concluded that O’Hara “knowingly and intentionally” attempted to obstruct the investigation by deleting a contact card from his government-issued cellphone. According to reports, the contact belonged to a city employee connected to the investigation. The deletion allegedly occurred by May 7, 2025, yet investigators found that O’Hara later denied removing the contact during interviews conducted in April and June.
The report also alleged that O’Hara discussed aspects of the investigation with another government employee despite instructions not to share information regarding the case.
Those findings proved to be the turning point.
Mayor Frey met with O’Hara on Tuesday and presented him with a report describing his actions as serious misconduct. According to the report, while the original allegations remained unsubstantiated, interference with the investigation itself represented a significant breach of trust.
“Although the investigators have concluded that the underlying allegations from the original investigation remain not substantiated, your interference with the investigation risked the integrity of the investigation and constitutes a significant breach of trust,” the report stated.
Facing those findings, O’Hara chose to resign.
The development is particularly striking given Frey’s public support for O’Hara just weeks earlier. At the beginning of May, the mayor had nominated him for a second term as chief despite the existence of prior complaints. During Wednesday’s press conference, Frey defended that decision by arguing that critical information only became available during the more recent investigation.
“We did not know then what we do know now,” Frey told reporters. “If I had known earlier, I would not have renominated him.”
O’Hara’s departure marks the end of a tenure that began in May 2022, when he was brought in to oversee reforms following the death of George Floyd and the unrest that followed. His leadership frequently placed him in the middle of highly charged political debates, including criticism over comments made during a December press conference regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minneapolis.
Following federal immigration enforcement activity tied to Operation Metro Surge, O’Hara advised residents to report masked individuals conducting arrests and suggested police would respond to document those encounters. The remarks drew significant attention, particularly as federal authorities described the operation as targeting illegal immigrants accused of serious crimes.
Despite his resignation, O’Hara’s legal and professional troubles may not be over. City officials say Minneapolis still has 17 open misconduct allegations involving the former chief, and those investigations will continue.
