Brian O’Hara’s resignation felt sudden. But the city has been investigating the Minneapolis police chief for more than a year.
An initial investigation into his conduct, including allegations of abusive behavior toward staff and of inappropriate romantic relationships with female subordinates, was closed last summer after it concluded there was insufficient evidence of wrongdoing, according two city officials with direct knowledge of the report. But the probe was quietly reopened earlier this year after a department whistleblower emerged with additional information.
That new investigation found that O’Hara interfered with the original investigation and likely “knowingly and intentionally” deleted a contact card for a material witness from his city cellphone in an attempt to conceal evidence.
O’Hara’s departure marks an abrupt downfall of a highly visible public figure who had enjoyed broad community support. But concerns about O’Hara’s conduct had long reverberated inside City Hall, where some City Council members expressed reluctance to reappoint him, in part because of nearly two dozen pending complaints.
Yet, Mayor Jacob Frey moved ahead with the reconfirmation process, seeking to persuade elected officials to grant O’Hara a second term.
On Tuesday, Frey told reporters that, at the time, he did not have information substantiating the alleged misconduct — which he described in a disciplinary letter as “poor judgement, inconsistent with the level of integrity this role...
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