Frey taps interim chief Peterson to lead Minneapolis police permanently
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Friday named interim police Chief Bill Peterson, a 30-year veteran of the department, as his permanent choice to lead the force.
Peterson took over the interim chief’s job following the resignation of Brian O’Hara in May. During his career, Peterson has worked as an inspector and held leadership roles in responding to major emergencies and implementing new training for officers.
He was prominent during a response to a shooting in September at a Minneapolis high-rise where three officers were injured as they confronted and killed a shooter.
A biography distributed by the city noted Peterson has led the department’s response to many major incidents and events, including the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in 2007, the north Minneapolis tornado in 2011 and Super Bowl LII in 2018.
When he was named interim chief on June 2, Peterson vowed to bring stability to the job but said he was not interested in applying to be permanent chief.
“I’m at a point in my career where I still love to lead, but the constant public scrutiny is something that at this point I just don’t want to have to deal with,” he said then.
The Minneapolis City Council will need to approve Peterson’s permanent role. Frey is expected to brief reporters at 2:30 p.m. on his decision.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
