MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Mayor Frey Renominates Brian O’Hara for Second Term as Minneapolis Police Chief

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (May 8, 2026) Jacob Frey has formally renominated Brian O'Hara for a second four-year term as chief of the Minneapolis Police Department, setting up a closely watched confirmation process before the Minneapolis City Council amid ongoing debates over policing, public safety spending, and police reform in Minneapolis.

The renomination, announced May 7, comes as city officials continue implementing major reform mandates while attempting to rebuild police staffing levels following years of officer departures, public scrutiny, and operational instability after the 2020 murder of George Floyd.

In a statement announcing the nomination, Frey said O’Hara has provided continuity and operational leadership during a critical period for the department and argued the city “cannot afford to hit the reset button” while reforms and staffing recovery efforts remain underway.

“Chief O’Hara is the right leader for this moment and for this city,” Frey said.

According to the mayor’s office, O’Hara has led the department through what officials described as a “pivotal period marked by both challenge and transformation” since taking office in November 2022.

Frey’s administration cited declining violent crime statistics as one of the primary reasons for the renomination. City officials said violent crime has decreased across several major categories, including homicides, robberies, and carjackings. The administration also stated that shootings in north Minneapolis have reached record lows compared to previous years.

The mayor’s office additionally pointed to progress in rebuilding the department’s staffing levels.

Following a significant officer exodus after 2020, Minneapolis Police Department staffing reportedly fell to approximately 550 officers. City officials now say the department has increased staffing to roughly 640 officers while applications to join the force have increased substantially in recent hiring cycles. The administration has set a long-term staffing target between 730 and 740 officers by 2027.

O’Hara, formerly a police official and public safety director in Newark, New Jersey, was selected in 2022 following a national search process. His tenure has coincided with continued federal and state oversight efforts tied to reform agreements involving the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the United States Department of Justice.

The mayor’s office also credited O’Hara’s leadership during several high-profile public safety incidents and operations.

Among them was the department’s response to the Aug. 27, 2025 shooting at Annunciation Catholic School, where city officials said officers triaged and evacuated victims within 14 minutes of the initial 911 call.

Frey additionally highlighted Operation Metro Surge, a coordinated late-2025 and early-2026 public safety initiative involving proactive patrols and partnerships with state and federal law enforcement agencies aimed at reducing violent crime, firearm offenses, and organized criminal activity throughout Minneapolis and surrounding areas.

Despite strong backing from the mayor’s office, O’Hara’s path to confirmation before the City Council remains uncertain.

The department has faced criticism over budget overruns tied largely to overtime spending associated with Operation Metro Surge and ongoing staffing shortages. City financial records show the Minneapolis Police Department exceeded its 2025 operating budget by approximately $19.6 million.

Some council members have also raised concerns regarding accountability and transparency issues surrounding the chief’s tenure.

Council discussions have referenced 22 open conduct complaints involving O’Hara. While Minnesota personnel privacy laws prevent public disclosure of complaint details, the existence of the complaints has become a point of contention among several council members evaluating the nomination.

O’Hara has additionally faced criticism related to public comments involving several high-profile incidents, including the police shooting of Davis Moturi and the death of Allison Lussier. Minneapolis city auditors reviewing portions of those communications previously stated that some public statements from department leadership may have been “harmful” to public understanding and trust.

Political support for O’Hara appears divided within the 13-member council.

Jamal Osman and Jamison Whiting have publicly voiced support for O’Hara’s renomination, while other council members, including Soren Stevenson and LaTrisha Vetaw, have expressed concerns involving departmental spending, accountability, and oversight.

Under Minneapolis city procedures, the nomination will proceed through a public hearing process before advancing to a final City Council confirmation vote.

The upcoming confirmation debate is expected to further highlight continuing divisions over the direction of policing in Minneapolis as the city balances violent crime reduction efforts, staffing recovery, reform obligations, budget pressures, and demands for greater police accountability.

As of Friday evening, a final confirmation vote date had not been publicly announced.

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