Minneapolis mayor names Bill Peterson interim police chief after Brian O'Hara's resignation

A week after Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara resigned amid scandal, Mayor Jacob Frey has named his interim replacement.

Frey said Tuesday Bill Peterson will hold the position during the search for a permanent chief.

"Bill Peterson is the right leader for this moment," Frey said. "He's spent three decades serving Minneapolis, he's earned the respect of officers across the department, and he understands that trust with the people of Minneapolis is paramount. Bill understands that trust is earned, and he has established a reputation of working every day to earn it." 

Peterson has been with the Minneapolis Police Department for 30 years, and currently leads the First Precinct. He's held other leadership positions throughout his career. 

"This department and this city are in a clear period of transition. My goal is to create stability and leadership for both the department and the community," Peterson said.

Peterson said he'll rely on the relationships he's built with community members over the years to guide his short tenure; he added that he's not interested in the permanent chief job as he doesn't want to withstand "constant public scrutiny."

Office of Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette, whose reappointment stands in limbo after a City Council rejection and subsequent mayoral veto, said he's still in the process of outlining next steps for a permanent chief. He said Tuesday he expects the process to take six months and he's encouraging internal candidates to apply.

O'Hara resigned May 26 after an internal probe found he interfered with a previous investigation, according to the mayor. That prior investigation included unsubstantiated allegations O'Hara "engaged in sexual intimate relationships" with city employees, Frey said.

O'Hara released a statement through his attorney following his resignation, saying he was "proud to serve Minneapolis" and touting "significant progress" in rebuilding the department's relationship with the community after the murder of George Floyd. The statement made no mention of the investigation.

"When I was asked to step into this role, I felt compelled to answer the call. At a time when the Minneapolis Police Department needs experienced, steady leadership, I am honored to serve and ready to lead," Peterson said. "My focus will be on maintaining stability, supporting officers, building on the progress we've made, strengthening trust with our community, and ensuring every resident feels safe in the city we are proud to serve."   

"Chief Peterson is widely respected by rank-and-file officers and community members alike. Minneapolis continues to face public safety challenges, and we believe Chief Peterson's experience, credibility and dedication to this city position him well to lead the department well through this transition," said the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis President Sherral Schmidt. 

Immediately after O'Hara's resignation, Frey appointed Katie Blackwell as acting chief. Frey thanked her for "stepping in at a critical time and providing strong leadership for the department over the past week."

O'Hara's resignation came just weeks after Frey nominated him for reappointment, calling him "the right leader for this moment" at the time.

O'Hara's departure and the subsequent search will have no impact on Minneapolis police's consent decree or settlement agreement that outlines reforms to the department in the wake of George Floyd's murder, Barnette said.