Chief of Police
Minneapolis Police Department
Minnapolis, Minnesota, United States
Chief Brian O’Hara
54th Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department
Sworn in on November 7, 2022, Chief Brian A. O’Hara leads the Minneapolis Police Department with a focus on reducing crime, rebuilding the department, and restoring community trust. Under his leadership, MPD has advanced reforms, strengthened accountability, and expanded partnerships to enhance safety and transparency.
Previously, O’Hara served as Newark’s Deputy Mayor and Public Safety Director, overseeing nearly 2,000 employees and a $200M budget. He began his career with the Newark Police Department in 2001, rising to Captain and later Deputy Chief, where he worked with the U.S. Department of Justice to implement consent decree reforms and lead accountability efforts.
O’Hara holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Rutgers University–Newark, and completed leadership programs at Harvard, the FBI National Academy, and the Senior Management Institute for Police.
Chief O’Hara is married to Wafiyyah, a Lieutenant in the Newark Police Department, and is the father of two sons, Brendan and James.
Building Agency Support for Violence Reduction Efforts Involving Police and Community
Saturday, October 18, 2025
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM MT