Minneapolis police chief resigns

News comes 1 week after cop killed woman who had called to report sex assault

MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau announced her resignation Friday in a statement posted to the police department website.

The chief’s departure comes less than a week after the fatal police shooting of Justine Damond, a 40-year-old Australian woman. On Saturday, Damond called 911 to report a possible sexual assault near her home in south Minneapolis, and one of the responding officers, Mohamed Noor, shot her from the squad car. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the shooting.

“Last Saturday’s tragedy as well as some other recent incidents have caused me to engage in deep reflection. The recent incidents do not reflect the training and procedures we developed as a department. Despite the MPD’s many accomplishments under my leadership over these years and my love for the City, I have to put the communities we serve first,” Harteau said. “I’ve decided I am willing to step aside to let a fresh set of leadership eyes see what more can be done for the MPD to be the very best it can be. The city of Minneapolis deserves the very best.”

Mayor Betsy Hodges issued a statement immediately after Harteau’s announcement, saying she asked for the chief’s resignation.

“As far as we have come, I’ve lost confidence in the Chief’s ability to lead us further — and from the many conversations I’ve had with people around our city, especially this week, it is clear that she has lost the confidence of the people of Minneapolis as well,” Hodges said.