Morning Edition

Minneapolis City Council member wants next police chief to be internal hire

A man listens during a meeting
Ward 3 council member Michael Rainville prepares to enter a closed session during a Minneapolis City Council meeting on Jan. 6, 2025.
Ben Hovland | MPR News file

Leadership and organizational changes in the Minneapolis Police Department will come up before the Minneapolis City Council on Tuesday afternoon following the abrupt resignation of former Chief Brian O'Hara earlier this spring.

Ward Three City Council member Michael Rainville, who represents neighborhoods including Marcy-Holmes, Nicollet Island and St. Anthony, joined Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition to talk about the progress he hopes to hear and give an update on choosing O’Hara’s permanent replacement.

“The mayor's office is moving at the speed of bureaucracy,” Rainville said, but added that they’ve identified a search firm to help in the hiring process.

“Rumor has it that there are three or four internal candidates that are thinking about applying for the job as well, whereas last time, only one internal candidate applied when we hired Chief O'Hara. So that's very exciting.”

Rainville thinks now is the time for MPD to look internally, rather than externally, for its next chief.

Listen to the conversation by clicking the player button above.