Overview
- O'Hara submitted his resignation after Mayor Frey told him on Tuesday that an outside probe produced substantiated findings that he interfered with an internal investigation and that he would face discipline up to termination.
- Investigators concluded O'Hara deleted a contact card from his city-issued phone and told a city employee about the probe after he had been instructed to keep the matter confidential.
- The outside law firm that reviewed the case found the original allegations that O'Hara had sexual relationships with city employees were not substantiated, a determination unchanged by the later obstruction findings.
- Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell was named acting police chief and the city said it will continue investigating roughly 17 other complaints against O'Hara while it searches for interim and permanent leadership.
- The resignation follows Mayor Frey's renomination of O'Hara earlier this month and has intensified calls from council members and community groups for greater transparency and stronger oversight of senior public safety appointments, a shift that could affect department morale and future vetting processes.