Todd Barnette

Minneapolis Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette will step down at the end of the year, remaining interim commissioner until a permanent replacement is found. Barnette will assist in the search for the next police chief, oversee the opening of the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center, and manage community safety reforms. His reappointment was denied by the city council but reinstated after Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed the rejection.

Minneapolis Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette will resign by the end of the year after a standoff with the city council over his appointment.

Minneapolis City Council members emphasize reform, fiscal responsibility, and community trust as key criteria for selecting the next police chief. Council members Jason Chavez and LaTrisha Vetaw highlight the need for a candidate committed to police accountability, transparency, and engaging with the community. Disagreements over the reappointment of Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette are noted but not seen as directly impacting the police chief search.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey outlined a 16-week process to select a new police chief by mid-fall, replacing Brian O’Hara, who resigned after interfering with an investigation into his conduct. The process includes stakeholder engagement, recruitment, and multiple interview rounds before submitting a nomination to the city council in October or November.

Minneapolis has not yet started the official search for a permanent police chief following Chief Brian O’Hara’s resignation. City leaders, including Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette and MPD Bureau Chief Ganesha Martin, stated police reform efforts remain on track and emphasized the search process is still in early planning stages.