Some members of the Minneapolis City Council expressing their concerns over Mayor Jacob Frey's handling of the situation just weeks after re-nominating O'Hara for a second term and calling for more transparency.
O'Hara resigned Tuesday after allegations he interfered into an investigation into his conduct.
Council President Elliot Payne says he'd like to see more collaboration between the mayor and the council when it comes to big decisions like this.
"I think that the mayor should be relying on us to expand his view of judgment on some of these hard decisions," said Payne at a Wednesday press conference. "And I think that when he goes off, into his office alone, and and makes decisions without actually working with city council, you get this result. Which is a total lapse of judgment."
Payne says even though allegations that O'Hara engaged in sexual relations with city employees was never substantiated, the fact that the situation rose to the level where an independent investigation was initiated should have been reason enough for Mayor Frey to fire him, or ask for his resignation.
"Whatever the complaint was that rose to the occasion for an independent investigation should have been a strong indicator that that would have been a measured response," Payne adds.
Payne, who spoke to WCCO's Jason DeRusha Wednesday afternoon, also says the council was never made aware of any investigations involving O'Hara.
"Although the investigators have concluded that this interference does not change their ultimate conclusion contained in the original report, in other words, the allegations of relationships with city employees, the interference itself is a breach of trust," Frey explained Tuesday night while announcing O'Hara's departure.
Ward 2 City Council member Robin Wonsley said the issues with O'Hara is more evidence that there needs to be reform across the entire MPD.
"We need to reevaluate what's going on with this department," Wonsley adds. "There's been a culture festering of just permissive will, and the allowance of MPD to just overspend their budget time and time again while not making our community safer, by selling our residents time and time again."
When it comes to the next chief, Payne expressed confidence in interim police chief, Katie Blackwell, but wants the council more involved going forward.
"Blackwell is really respected, I believe, and I think we'll be a good leader in this transition," Payne explains. "I think that we need to have a comprehensive view of the role and what we want out of the next chief before we jump to the conclusion about who that permanent chief should be. I do feel confidence in Katie Blackwell in taking on this really challenging appointment in this moment."
Payne also made it clear that the uncertainty around the investigations is one of the big reasons the City Council did not vote to re-confirm Todd Barnette as Community Safety Commissioner. Frey vetoed that vote, and the council did not have enough votes to overcome that veto. That has left Barnette in an uncertain position.
"This is why we were skeptical of Commissioner Barnette's nomination, is because this was an unresolved series of rumors that were just swirling around the chief," Payne told DeRusha. "And we had no visibility into that, no visibility into the veracity of the claims, or even what the allegations were. Because again, you hear it from all these angles of whether it's community or reporters, but without any firm claims on it."
Council President Elliot Payne says Mayor Frey's lack of transparency with them was a "total lack of judgement"
Council President Elliot Payne says Mayor Frey's lack of transparency with them was a "total lack of judgement"
