On Thursday, the Minneapolis City Council voted 8‑5 to reject Mayor Jacob Frey’s nomination of interim chief Bill Peterson as the city’s next police chief, according to both KSTP and CBS News. Peterson, a 31‑year veteran of the Minneapolis Police Department who has led the First Precinct, was nominated after former chief Brian O’Hara resigned. Council members Elliott Payne, Robin Wonsley, LaTrisha Vetaw, Pearll Warren, Soren Stevenson, Jason Chavez, Aisha Chughtai and Aurin Chowdhury voted against the nomination; Michael Rainville, Jamal Osman, Elizabeth Shaffer, Jamison Whiting and Linea Palmisano voted in favor.
The council’s questioning of Peterson lasted more than three hours. Opponents argued that an external candidate would better address the department’s history of racial discrimination findings by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the Department of Justice. Council President Payne said he wants a leader who can acknowledge “the ugly parts” of the department’s past and provide “humility” for the moment the city is in. Council Vice President Jamal Osman defended Peterson, stating he heard no personal misconduct that justified a vote against him.
Mayor Frey praised Peterson’s performance as interim chief, noting the chief “did an incredible job” during a tumultuous period and expressed disappointment at the council’s decision. Frey did not indicate whether he will veto the vote, but said the council likely lacks the votes needed to override a mayoral veto. He added that Peterson would continue as interim chief for the foreseeable future, though the mayor’s final decision remains pending.
Later that same week, Minneapolis police reported the arrest of far‑right activist Jake Lang and three others on probable cause riot charges after a protest turned violent outside City Hall. According to CBS News, Lang and two companions drove onto the sidewalk toward counter‑protesters, prompting a rapid police response that included barricades and a large officer presence. Three officers were injured, with one briefly hospitalized. Police tracked the vehicles and arrested the suspects near Washington Avenue and later near Lindau Lane. Mayor Frey condemned the actions, saying, “If you’re going to drive on the sidewalk, you’re going to incite a riot … then you’re going to get arrested.”
Both incidents highlight the city’s ongoing public‑safety challenges as officials navigate leadership decisions and community tensions. The council is expected to reconvene soon to discuss next steps for the police chief nomination, while the district attorney’s office will handle the pending charges against Lang and his associates.
What’s next: The council will meet again in the coming weeks to consider alternative candidates for police chief. Mayor Frey may exercise his veto power, though he has not confirmed his intent. Meanwhile, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office will set a court date for the riot‑related cases stemming from the City Hall protest.
Sources: kstp.com, cbsnews.com, cbsnews.com, cbsnews.com
