The Minnesota Star Tribune Sues City of Minneapolis Over Police Complaint Records

Lawsuit alleges city unlawfully withheld public data about complaints against police chief

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Star Tribune has filed a second lawsuit against the City of Minneapolis alleging violations of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), this time related to the city’s failure to respond to a lawful request for public information identifying individuals who filed misconduct complaints against Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Hennepin County District Court, asserts that the city has constructively denied the Minnesota Star Tribune’s request by failing to provide the requested data, despite long-standing Minnesota Supreme Court precedent holding that the identities of individuals who file complaints against police officers are public data.

On Nov. 17, 2025, the Star Tribune requested “the name and all public information of every member of the public who has ever submitted a complaint to MPD about Chief Brian O’Hara.” More than two months later, the city has provided no data and cited no legal basis for withholding the information.

“Minnesota law is clear: the public has the right to know who files complaints against police officers,” said Kathleen Hennessey, editor of the Minnesota Star Tribune. “When the city simply ignores a lawful records request, it undermines transparency and accountability. This lawsuit seeks to enforce rights that have been settled law for more than 30 years.”

In 1991, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in Demers v. City of Minneapolis that the identities of members of the public who file complaints against police officers is public under the MGDPA. According to the complaint, the city has complied with similar requests in the past, including releasing complainant information related to former officer Derek Chauvin and another MPD officer, demonstrating that it understands both the law and that it can respond promptly.

“The city knows this data is public,” said Emily Peterson, general counsel for the Minnesota Star Tribune. “Its failure to respond here is not a mistake. It is a willful violation of the law. Journalists and the public cannot hold government accountable when agencies decide, without explanation, to ignore their legal obligations.”

The Minnesota Star Tribune also sued the City of Minneapolis in December alleging MPD violated the MGDPA by refusing to identify a homicide victim in a stabbing incident on December 2, 2025 in the Kenwood neighborhood of Minneapolis. According to that complaint, MPD has repeatedly fallen short of its obligations to release the identity of homicide victims, even after follow-up requests and attempts to resolve the issues without litigation. That lawsuit remains ongoing; the city filed an answer to the complaint Tuesday.

The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act requires government entities to keep public data easily accessible and to respond to requests in an appropriate and prompt manner. The Minnesota Star Tribune’s newest lawsuit seeks a court order compelling the city to release the requested records, as well as declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent future violations. The paper is also seeking damages, civil penalties, and attorneys’ fees as allowed under state law.

“This case is about enforcing transparency not just for one newsroom, but for all Minnesotans,” Peterson said. “Public access laws only work when government agencies are required to follow them.”