Minneapolis Police Chief Resigns After Mayor Says He Deleted Evidence In Misconduct Probe
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara resigned after Mayor Jacob Frey said investigators found he deleted a contact card from his city-issued phone during an internal probe, Frey said Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Minneapolis.[1]
Frey said he told O'Hara he would discipline him "up to and including discharge" for what he called a "breach of trust." Fox News Investigators concluded the underlying sexual-misconduct allegations were unsubstantiated but that deleting the contact card interfered with the probe.[2]
Earlier in May, Frey nominated O'Hara for a second term and publicly praised him as "the right leader for this moment in Minneapolis," despite misconduct complaints and council misgivings.[2] The mayor's office said 17 open complaints against O'Hara, separate from the relationships probe, remain under investigation.[3]
Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell will serve as acting chief of the Minneapolis Police Department.[3] O'Hara has not publicly commented on his resignation and the Minneapolis Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.[2] His tenure included the city's response to the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting and Operation Metro Surge earlier in 2026.[3]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Mayor Jacob Frey said Chief Brian O'Hara resigned after a second investigation found he intentionally deleted a contact card from his city-issued phone during a probe into alleged relationships with city employees, and that O'Hara told a city employee his phone had been seized despite instructions not to discuss the investigation.
- Frey said he told O'Hara he would discipline him 'up to and including discharge' because the interference was a 'breach of trust,' and O'Hara resigned after being informed of that possible discipline; Frey called the decision 'extremely painful.'
- Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell will serve as acting chief of the Minneapolis Police Department following O'Hara’s resignation.
- Investigators concluded the underlying sexual-misconduct allegations were unsubstantiated but that the deletion of the contact card constituted interference with the investigation and a 'breach of trust.' Investigators
- The mayor’s office said 17 open complaints against O'Hara, separate from the relationships probe, remain under investigation.
- O'Hara has not publicly commented on his resignation or the mayor's description of his conduct, and the Minneapolis Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
- Earlier in May 2026, O'Hara's nomination for a second term by Frey had drawn public praise—Frey called him 'the right leader for this moment in Minneapolis'—despite existing misconduct complaints and council misgivings.
- O'Hara’s tenure included the city's response to the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting and Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration crackdown earlier in 2026.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- At a Tuesday night, May 26, 2026 news conference, Mayor Jacob Frey said investigators told him that Chief Brian O'Hara deleted a contact card from his city-issued cellphone during an active probe into allegations he had sexual relationships with city employees.
- Frey said investigators concluded the underlying sexual-misconduct allegations were unsubstantiated but that the deletion constituted 'interference' with the investigation and a 'breach of trust.'
- Frey said he informed O'Hara he would discipline him 'up to and including discharge,' after which O'Hara resigned.
- The article notes O'Hara has not publicly commented on the resignation or the mayor's description of his conduct and that the Minneapolis Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
- The piece adds that earlier in May 2026 Frey had nominated O'Hara for a second term and publicly praised him as 'the right leader for this moment in Minneapolis' despite existing misconduct complaints and council misgivings.
- Mayor Jacob Frey said Tuesday, May 26, 2026, that Brian O'Hara resigned after a second investigation found he intentionally deleted a contact card from his city-issued phone during the original probe and told a city employee his phone had been seized, despite instructions not to discuss the investigation.
- Frey stated he informed O'Hara he would discipline him up to and including discharge because the interference was a "breach of trust," and O'Hara then resigned; Frey called it an "extremely painful decision."
- Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell will take over as acting chief of the Minneapolis Police Department following O'Hara’s resignation.
- The mayor’s office said 17 open complaints against O'Hara, separate from the original relationships probe, remain under investigation.
- The article notes O'Hara’s tenure included the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting response and Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration crackdown earlier in 2026.