There are currently 22 open misconduct complaints against the Minneapolis chief of police, who himself has criticized a “lack of accountability” when it comes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
Chief Brian O’Hara has used his position to criticize ICE, particularly during its surge in the Twin Cities. Following a “chaotic arrest” by agents, O’Hara quickly condemned his fellow men and women in uniform. “It is deeply concerning that there appears to be a lack of accountability from our federal partners,” O’Hara said last December.
Likewise, he rushed to condemn immigration officers who arrested an Augsburg University student that same month. The law enforcement leader said the arrests have left people “scared” and said there are people “who have simply lived here and been contributing to the community for many years.” The person arrested, according to the Department of Homeland Security, was an alleged sex offender.
Earlier this year, he said that even if an investigation cleared a Border Patrol agent for a controversial shooting, it “doesn’t even matter at this point” because of all the “outrage” in the city.
Now O’Hara, whose three-year appointment by Mayor Jacob Frey has run out, would like some grace as he faces his own accusations of misconduct.
“Thirty complaints have been filed against Chief O’Hara during his tenure, which amounts to a little more than three years at this point,” Alpha News MN reported. Eight have been dismissed so far, but 22 remain open.
This works out to about 10 a year, which a police expert told the news outlet is fairly high.
“Chiefs across the country, including Chief O’Hara, have always talked about accountability and transparency … 30 complaints against anybody in such a short period of time is pretty shocking,” Travis Yates told Alpha News. Yates is a law enforcement veteran who trains police departments.
He said further:
You have to take those complaints in context. But the fact that nobody knows anything about them — the public hasn’t been made aware of them — the fact that the chief has shown no transparency whatsoever about what’s happening. It’s also pretty shocking.
City officials say that O’Hara is doing a great job.
“The mere existence of complaints is not an indication of wrongdoing,” Community Safety Commissioner Toddrick Barnette told Alpha News. He praised the chief for “bringing on new officers, building one of the most diverse departments in years, and strengthening community trust.”
The news outlet notes that despite O’Hara’s professed interest in accountability, he did not respond to its media questions.
However, he did respond to another outlet and suggested politics were at play.
“Apparently since the surge, the number of complaints have doubled, which I think that says something about it right there,” O’Hara said.
Still, Alpha News reported that sources told it, “there are serious allegations against Chief O’Hara that include hostile work environment complaints, HR complaints, and code of conduct complaints.”
It is very possible that activists are trying to tarnish O’Hara for his response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Conservatives might feel he is too critical, while liberals may feel he is not doing enough. He does remain innocent until proven guilty, and certainly, that eight complaints have been tossed out so far works in his favor.
And yet, he is all too ready to condemn his fellow law enforcement agents who are working in difficult conditions to remove criminal illegal aliens from the street, while facing a mob of organized left-wing activists.
O’Hara wants a fair system where he is judged solely on his actions, and others do not rush to condemn him – so do the same agents he rushes to admonish.
[Featured image via Face the Nation]
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY