Minneapolis police chief resigns after interfering with an investigation, mayor says

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara resigned after the mayor said he would face discipline for interfering with an investigation into his conduct. O'Hara had been hired to oversee police reforms following George Floyd’s killing. Investigators found he deleted a contact card from a city-issued phone to shield evidence and told another city employee about the investigation after being instructed to keep it quiet. The mayor said discipline could include termination, and O'Hara chose resignation instead. The city will continue investigating 17 other open complaints against O'Hara that are separate from the disciplinary matter. O'Hara did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara, who was hired to oversee reforms in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, chose to resign rather than face disciplinary action for interfering with an investigation into his conduct, Mayor Jacob Frey announced Tuesday."

"While those allegations were never substantiated, Frey said investigators found that O'Hara had interfered with the probe. He is accused of deleting a contact card from his city-issued cell phone in an attempt to shield evidence and telling another city employee about the investigation after he was instructed to keep it quiet, according to a written reprimand obtained by The Associated Press."

"The mayor told O'Hara he would be disciplined, which could include his termination. He chose to resign instead, Frey said. "It was an extremely painful decision, obviously, but I concluded that that was necessary to maintain public trust, and this was the right way to move forward as a city," Frey said."

"The city still has 17 open complaints against O'Hara - separate from the investigation that resulted in disciplinary action - and will continue investigating, mayor's office spokesperson Jennifer Lor said. Lor could not comment on the nature of those complaints."

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