Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has tapped interim Minneapolis Police Chief Bill Peterson to permanently lead the Minneapolis Police Department.
Peterson has served the Minneapolis Police Department for 30 years and was selected in May to lead MPD shortly after Chief Brian O'Hara resigned amid findings he interfered in an ongoing sexual misconduct investigation.
Peterson initially stated he didn't want the permanent job. Ward 3 City Council member Michael Rainville tells WCCO's Adam and Jordana that Peterson has his support.
"That's a big factor. He's got the team around him that can help bring our police department to where we need to go," Rainville explains. "And I'm sure he's had those tough conversations with his wife because he loves his two young sons. He's got sons that are 12, 14, and she's going to have to be part of this."
The appointment still requires sign off by the City Council which has been no sure thing for Frey's appointments, including former Commissioner of Community Safety Toddrick Barnette.
Rainville also pointed to Peterson's 30-year department tenure and hands-on experience as key advantages for steering the agency through ongoing staffing and budgetary hurdles.
"Chief Peterson's response to his budget deficit and his budget presentation this year, the first thing he did was admit that there was mismanagement in the police department regarding that overtime," Rainville adds. "But to admit that there were mistakes made, and to say that will be fixed, that just tells you the direction under his leadership that our police department is headed in."
The department has been plagued by understaffing since the COVID-19 pandemic, and fallout from the killing of George Floyd by former MPD officer Derek Chauvin in 2020. In 2026, the department has gone way over budget for overtime, due to that understaffing and also increased call volumes during the federal government's immigration crackdown in January and February.
The budget issues with the MPD have created tension with the City Council, and forced Frey to propose significant property tax hikes to pay for it. The department which is facing a $20 million budget shortfall, and Peterson has recently gone on record, calling the budget he inherited "a mess."
The Minneapolis City Council is expected to discuss and vote on confirming the nomination in the coming weeks. A formal announcement from Mayor Frey will come at 2:00 p.m.
Peterson has led a distinguished career with the Minneapolis Police Department. Throughout his career, Peterson has helped lead the department’s response to major incidents and events, including the North Side tornado, the I-35W bridge collapse, periods of civil unrest and large-scale public safety operations such as the MLB All-Star Game and Super Bowl LII, and most recently – the mass shooting at 15 E Grant Street.
Peterson has served in leadership roles across several divisions of the department, including: Special Operations, Division Patrol Unit, Violent Crimes Investigations Division, Robbery Investigator, Fourth Precinct Patrol, Pre-Service Training, and Inspector of the First Precinct.
