Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau resigned Friday, according to a news release from Mayor Betsy Hodges.
The resignation comes in the wake of a deadly encounter in which an officer shot and killed a woman who called officers to investigate a possible sexual assault near her residence.
Hodges didn’t refer directly to that killing in a statement, but said, “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 she asked Harteau to resign.
“In conversation with the chief today, she and I agreed that she would step aside to make way for new leadership,” Hodges said.
Harteau said Thursday that the fatal shooting of Justin Ruszczyk “should not have happened. … On our squad cars, you will find the words: ‘To protect with courage and serve with compassion.’ This did not happen.”
Police said a squad car entered an alley and Ruszczyk, 40, approached the driver’s side to talk with the officers. The officer in the passenger seat shot and killed the unarmed Ruszczyk, an Australian who was going to marry next month.
No charges have been filed, but the officers have been placed on administrative leave.
