Disappointing. I thought he was a steadying influence and had done a solid job. But perhaps Chief O'Hara was not the person he portrayed himself to be.
Maybe no better time than the present to consider changing the structure of Community Safety. Eliminate Todd Barnette's position, and have the new Chief of Police report directly to the mayor. That should increase the talent level of the candidates.
I always thought Frey intensionally created that structure as a way to distance himself from whatever political problems that could arise from policing.
AGree that it would be great to have a common understanding of how to measure success of police reform, but it seems impossible to get there based on the bias of council members and anti police activists. Policing has become a political landmine, and the only government job where accountability actually carries consequences. I wonder about the “Community policing” policies of our DSAs….what accountability is expected of them? My wish is that O’Hara gets a multimillion book deal and writes an expose of his experience in trying to police in a hostile political environment within a sanctuary city.
They get into some stuff, in the Cities, and even nationwide, dead center in the mixture of sports. I think they probably represent a lot of people, their take, and personal opinions, on things happening here in Mpls.
Tuned in about the NBA playoffs, with the finals looming, and then, here we go, we are talking about the MPD, Frey and O'Hara, AND the DSA/ Wonsley voting block.
In terms of a "hostile working environment", I so wish employees of the MPD would start to SUE the City for this hostile environment, created, by design, by the DSA aligned/ Wonsley faction on our own City Council.
Thanks for sending. The comments made by Cedric Alexander, the former Commissioner of Community Safety, are concerning. They paint a picture of willful ignorance by Frey.
Perfectly stated: “For those who have suffered directly from police abuse, reform cannot come fast enough. For those frustrated by crime and lawlessness on their streets, change is also too slow, the difference is that they still believe police are an integral part of the solution.”
I am going to take Frey’s comments as accurate that the Chief had issues: ““Your behavior, as substantiated by the investigation, demonstrates poor judgment, is inconsistent with the level of integrity this role requires, and has made it extraordinarily difficult for you to continue effectively in your role.”
I agree that both interoffice romances and coverups of such are problems. But within the context of Minneapolis politics, where the entire left wing of the City Council including President Payne ran interference for Jeremiah Ellison who was paid for months of non work after he moved to Boston…this is just rich. Or think about the city’s history of problems managing NGO/“nonprofits” billing and accountability. Consider We Push for Peace directors Trahern Pollard and Jacklyn McGuigan who are accused of stealing 6.5 million from the group for their personal use. Remember back in 2023 when attorney Zachary Coppola sued the Minneapolis Neighborhood Safety office to force them to start actually following standard accounting practise by matching records to payments for violence prevention groups because of the offices total lack of professionalism and accountability. https://www.yahoo.com/news/lawsuit-asks-judge-appoint-special-222500307.html.
While not directly city related, look at the Hennepin County Commissioners who tried to sneak through a 49% raise for themselves. And Hennepin County DA Mary Moriarty who those same commissioners allowed to waste 700k on outside counsel in her ill advised witch hunt of Ryan Londregan. Or Minnesota Senate Leader Erin Murphy who ran interference for former Sen. Nicole Mitchell after she was arrested and convicted for breaking into her stepmother’s house. Or the Walz administration’s complete lack of oversight in the ongoing and expanding fraud scandals.
It’s a long list of problems. There is soooo very much that is wrong with our government, but O’Hara’s unproven indiscretion and lame attempt to cover it up seems to be the one thing we’re all going to fixate on. Crazy.
100%. I wish the Strib would undertake some real investigative reporting to delve into the full scope of all of the community "non-profit" orgs that sprang up and have been awarded city funding for various functions -- and whether they in fact can and have performed the functions for which they have been paid--including who they are, how long in existence, do they meet non-profit organizational standards, what political connections, relevance to actual local community concerns, etc.
O'Hara did a lot of good during his time here, and he made substantial personal sacrifices. Frey, clearly, did not feel he had a choice in having THAT meeting, with THAT discipline action, and it ended right there. We all know who, exactly, on the City Council, is happy, joyful, and even jubilant about this development, however it happened.
Regardless of this situation, that ended O'Hara's time in Mpls, this was a rough gig for O'Hara, and it will be one rough gig for any one wanting to step into it. In the mean time, since this was so abrupt, and O'Hara has been out there, present, the face of the dept daily, ( and known now, all over the country) this is another set back for Mpls.
* Let's be kind to our police officers and staff of the MPD, as they are now required to work in less than optimum working conditions, with all this uncertainty, ( and coming from all directions). AND especially for our 3rd Precinct officers and staff, who are STILL not operating in a normal work environment, within those 26 neighborhoods served...6 years later.
This likely means we will need to pay more for the position. It’s possible our lack of political stability and cohesion makes the position impossible to fill. It’s certainly a very tough job and not a reliable career boost for anyone who cares about those sorts of things…. This is how cities bleed out.
Disappointing. I thought he was a steadying influence and had done a solid job. But perhaps Chief O'Hara was not the person he portrayed himself to be.
Maybe no better time than the present to consider changing the structure of Community Safety. Eliminate Todd Barnette's position, and have the new Chief of Police report directly to the mayor. That should increase the talent level of the candidates.
I always thought Frey intensionally created that structure as a way to distance himself from whatever political problems that could arise from policing.
If that was his intention it doesn’t appear to have worked.
Good point!
AGree that it would be great to have a common understanding of how to measure success of police reform, but it seems impossible to get there based on the bias of council members and anti police activists. Policing has become a political landmine, and the only government job where accountability actually carries consequences. I wonder about the “Community policing” policies of our DSAs….what accountability is expected of them? My wish is that O’Hara gets a multimillion book deal and writes an expose of his experience in trying to police in a hostile political environment within a sanctuary city.
The city council strikes again.
https://www.fox9.com/tag/enough-said
I really appreciate that these two, quite reasonable people, that many of us know, took on this topic yesterday on their show.
*The conversation starts at 12 minutes in.
Not what I expected from sports commentators.
They get into some stuff, in the Cities, and even nationwide, dead center in the mixture of sports. I think they probably represent a lot of people, their take, and personal opinions, on things happening here in Mpls.
Tuned in about the NBA playoffs, with the finals looming, and then, here we go, we are talking about the MPD, Frey and O'Hara, AND the DSA/ Wonsley voting block.
In terms of a "hostile working environment", I so wish employees of the MPD would start to SUE the City for this hostile environment, created, by design, by the DSA aligned/ Wonsley faction on our own City Council.
It looks like the Strib is putting out something on this, about every hour today.
Mayor Jacob Frey defends handling of investigations, says Police Chief Brian O’Hara violated public trust
https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-mayor-jacob-frey-police-chief-brian-ohara-resignation/601849561?utm_source=gift_email
Thanks for sending. The comments made by Cedric Alexander, the former Commissioner of Community Safety, are concerning. They paint a picture of willful ignorance by Frey.
Perfectly stated: “For those who have suffered directly from police abuse, reform cannot come fast enough. For those frustrated by crime and lawlessness on their streets, change is also too slow, the difference is that they still believe police are an integral part of the solution.”
I am going to take Frey’s comments as accurate that the Chief had issues: ““Your behavior, as substantiated by the investigation, demonstrates poor judgment, is inconsistent with the level of integrity this role requires, and has made it extraordinarily difficult for you to continue effectively in your role.”
I agree that both interoffice romances and coverups of such are problems. But within the context of Minneapolis politics, where the entire left wing of the City Council including President Payne ran interference for Jeremiah Ellison who was paid for months of non work after he moved to Boston…this is just rich. Or think about the city’s history of problems managing NGO/“nonprofits” billing and accountability. Consider We Push for Peace directors Trahern Pollard and Jacklyn McGuigan who are accused of stealing 6.5 million from the group for their personal use. Remember back in 2023 when attorney Zachary Coppola sued the Minneapolis Neighborhood Safety office to force them to start actually following standard accounting practise by matching records to payments for violence prevention groups because of the offices total lack of professionalism and accountability. https://www.yahoo.com/news/lawsuit-asks-judge-appoint-special-222500307.html.
While not directly city related, look at the Hennepin County Commissioners who tried to sneak through a 49% raise for themselves. And Hennepin County DA Mary Moriarty who those same commissioners allowed to waste 700k on outside counsel in her ill advised witch hunt of Ryan Londregan. Or Minnesota Senate Leader Erin Murphy who ran interference for former Sen. Nicole Mitchell after she was arrested and convicted for breaking into her stepmother’s house. Or the Walz administration’s complete lack of oversight in the ongoing and expanding fraud scandals.
It’s a long list of problems. There is soooo very much that is wrong with our government, but O’Hara’s unproven indiscretion and lame attempt to cover it up seems to be the one thing we’re all going to fixate on. Crazy.
100%. I wish the Strib would undertake some real investigative reporting to delve into the full scope of all of the community "non-profit" orgs that sprang up and have been awarded city funding for various functions -- and whether they in fact can and have performed the functions for which they have been paid--including who they are, how long in existence, do they meet non-profit organizational standards, what political connections, relevance to actual local community concerns, etc.
Exhausting...being in Mpls.
O'Hara did a lot of good during his time here, and he made substantial personal sacrifices. Frey, clearly, did not feel he had a choice in having THAT meeting, with THAT discipline action, and it ended right there. We all know who, exactly, on the City Council, is happy, joyful, and even jubilant about this development, however it happened.
Regardless of this situation, that ended O'Hara's time in Mpls, this was a rough gig for O'Hara, and it will be one rough gig for any one wanting to step into it. In the mean time, since this was so abrupt, and O'Hara has been out there, present, the face of the dept daily, ( and known now, all over the country) this is another set back for Mpls.
* Let's be kind to our police officers and staff of the MPD, as they are now required to work in less than optimum working conditions, with all this uncertainty, ( and coming from all directions). AND especially for our 3rd Precinct officers and staff, who are STILL not operating in a normal work environment, within those 26 neighborhoods served...6 years later.
https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/brian-ohara-touts-significant-progress-at-mpd-in-first-statement-since-resignation/
🤬
No capable person should take that job.
Someone who wants a professional challenge will be needed.
This likely means we will need to pay more for the position. It’s possible our lack of political stability and cohesion makes the position impossible to fill. It’s certainly a very tough job and not a reliable career boost for anyone who cares about those sorts of things…. This is how cities bleed out.