Minneapolis names interim police chief as summer safety push begins
Minneapolis MN – Bill Peterson was named interim police chief June 2 as the city rolled out a summer safety plan with more weekend patrols.
Minneapolis is heading into summer with new police leadership and a citywide safety plan built around heavier weekend patrols and multi-agency enforcement. Mayor Jacob Frey named First Precinct Inspector Bill Peterson interim police chief on June 2, and the city rolled out its 2026 Summer Safety Plan on June 3.
The city says Peterson will serve while it conducts a national search for a permanent chief. That makes the move a temporary bridge, but it also comes as Minneapolis shifts into a season when festivals, neighborhood gatherings, and other large events can strain public-safety resources.
What the summer plan calls for
Minneapolis kicked off the effort with Operation Safe Summer, a June 1-6 enforcement push led by the Minneapolis Police Department and supported by multiple law-enforcement and prosecution partners across the city. City officials said the operation targets people known to regularly engage in violent crime.
Beyond that short window, the plan calls for officers not normally assigned to patrol to move into weekend bike patrols, foot beats, and mounted patrols through the summer. The city says those Chief’s beats will add 30 officers on the street without increasing overtime costs.
For residents, that should mean a more visible police presence on weekends, especially in neighborhoods the city says need extra support. For commuters and visitors, it suggests a heavier police footprint around busy streets and event areas when foot traffic rises.
Events Minneapolis is planning around
The city highlighted major gatherings including Pride, Taste of Minnesota, Aquatennial, the U.S. Special Olympics, WWE Summer Slam, and Open Streets events. Officials described them as examples of the large public events shaping staffing and safety planning this summer, not a fixed or exhaustive schedule.
Minneapolis also says the plan includes coordination among city departments and outside agencies, plus community outreach focused on violence prevention, emergency preparedness, youth engagement, and water and weather safety education.
The open question is who gets the job permanently. Peterson’s appointment gives the department an interim leader now, but the city still has to finish its national search for a permanent police chief.
