Interim Police Chief Appointed
Minneapolis Mayor names 30-year veteran Bill Peterson interim police chief
Key Points
Peterson has been in charge of the First Precinct since 2019, overseeing public safety operations in the North Loop, Downtown East and West, Loring Park, Elliot Park, and Cedar-Riverside.
The city highlighted Peterson’s past assignments across multiple units, saying he previously served in the Special Operations Division Patrol Unit and Violent Crimes Investigations Division, worked as a robbery investigator, and held Fourth Precinct patrol leadership.
Officials said Peterson helped lead MPD’s response efforts during major disasters and unrest, including the northside tornado, the I-35W bridge collapse, and the 2020 riots—and he also supported planning for high-profile events such as the MLB All-Star Game and Super Bowl LII.
Frey publicly credited acting Chief Katie Blackwell, thanking her ‘for stepping in at a critical time and providing strong leadership’ over the previous week.
On the O’Hara resignation, the reporting described two separate investigations by law firm Forsgren Fisher McCalmont DeMarea Tysver LLP—one allegation about sexual relationships that ‘was not substantiated’ and a later report alleging interference—prompting Frey to hold a rare evening news conference and call it a ‘breach of trust.’
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey named 30-year police veteran Bill Peterson as interim police chief on June 2, replacing acting Chief Katie Blackwell just one week after the sudden resignation of Brian O'Hara. Twin Cities Pioneer Press reported that O'Hara stepped down after investigators found he had 'knowingly and intentionally' deleted a contact from his city-issued phone and violated confidentiality rules during an internal probe — a move Frey called a 'breach of trust.'
Peterson, who has led MPD's First Precinct since 2019, said he felt 'compelled to answer the call' to provide 'experienced, steady leadership.' The city will now run a national search for a permanent chief, a process that typically takes six to nine months, according to KARE 11.
O'Hara's Exit: A Breach of Trust and Deleted Evidence
O'Hara's resignation followed two separate investigations by the law firm Forsgren Fisher McCalmont DeMarea Tysver LLP. The first probe, launched in mid-2025, looked into allegations that O'Hara had sexual relationships with city employees, including a subordinate. That investigation concluded the claims were 'not substantiated,' according to MPR News.
A second report focused on how O'Hara behaved during that first probe. Investigators found he deleted a contact card from his work phone to hide a connection to a key witness. He also allegedly told others about the investigation after being ordered not to. Police1 reported that Frey held a rare evening news conference on May 26 to announce O'Hara's immediate resignation. O'Hara's attorney, Doug Kelley, said his client was 'proud to serve' and pointed to progress in lowering violent crime.
Peterson's 30-Year Career Built on Crisis Response
Peterson's resume covers some of Minneapolis's biggest modern emergencies. He helped lead MPD's response to the I-35W bridge collapse in 2007, the North Side tornado in 2011, and the civil unrest following George Floyd's murder in 2020. He also helped plan security for Super Bowl LII in 2018, according to Police1.
As First Precinct Inspector, Peterson oversees public safety in the North Loop, Downtown East and West, Loring Park, Elliot Park, and Cedar-Riverside. Before that, he worked in the Special Operations Division, the Violent Crimes Investigations Division, and as a robbery investigator. Frey said Peterson has 'earned the respect of officers across the department,' calling him 'the right leader for this moment.'
City Council Anger and 17 Open Complaints Still Pending
The leadership shake-up has sparked political friction. Minneapolis City Council members publicly accused Mayor Frey of keeping them 'in the dark' about the investigations — even as he was renominating O'Hara for a new term. CBS Minnesota reported that council members said this compromised their oversight duties during a critical period.
O'Hara's troubles did not end with his resignation. He still faces 17 open complaints that the city will continue to investigate, according to the Associated Press. Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette emphasized that the leadership change will not slow progress on the city's federal consent decree or state settlement agreement, which require MPD to reform its policing practices.
National Search Begins as Independent Monitor Sees a 'Reset'
Commissioner Barnette has started planning a national search for a permanent chief, which will include community input and a professional recruitment firm. No timeline has been set, but such searches typically take six to nine months. Political analyst Blois Olson warned that Minneapolis's 'divided political climate' between the mayor and council will make the search harder, according to FOX 9.
David Douglass, the independent monitor overseeing MPD's reform settlement, called the transition a 'tremendous opportunity' and a 'reset' to find a chief fully committed to constitutional policing, MPR News reported. Peterson said his top priorities are maintaining stability, supporting officers, and strengthening community trust — themes that Frey summed up bluntly: 'Trust is not secondary to the job. It is the job.'
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