Minneapolis PD Chief Resigns

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) —  Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges says she will not be resigning despite protesters calling for her to step down.

Hodges made the statement Friday night when she returned to address reporters after her initial news conference about the resignation of the city's police chief was interrupted by protesters. The protesters demanded her resignation and shouted Hodges down. She eventually left.

But when she returned, Hodges said she understands the public's frustrations, but "I will not be resigning."

Minneapolis police Chief Janee Harteau says she agreed to resign following the mistaken shooting of a 911 caller so the department can have fresh leadership.

Harteau says fresh eyes are needed to make the department "the very best it can be."

Harteau's resignation comes nearly a week after Justine Damond, a 40-year-old life coach and native Australian, was shot by an officer who was responding to her 911 call about a possible sexual assault.

That officer, Mohamed Noor, and his partner didn't have their body cameras turned on, which has sparked wide criticism of the department. Mayor Betsy Hodges says she no longer had confidence in Harteau.

Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges says she asked Chief Harteau to resign because she had lost confidence in the chief.

Harteau stepped down Friday, almost a week after an Australian woman died after being shot by an officer responding to her 911 call. Harteau was away from the city until Thursday on personal matters.

Neither of the officers involved had their body cameras turned on at the time, which has drawn widespread criticism of the department.

Harteau was picked by Hodges' predecessor in 2012 to become the city's first female, first openly gay and first Native American police chief.

Hodges praised her work, but said she thought Harteau had lost the confidence of the residents of Minneapolis, too