FORMER BCA CHIEF QUIT OVER FUNDING, POLITICAL DISPUTE

Political wrangling over state funding and philosophical differences with
Gov. Jesse Ventura apparently prompted Nicholas O'Hara to leave his post as
the head of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

O'Hara, who led the BCA for five years, left the agency Monday and accepted
a post with the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office. He had announced his
resignation Feb. 23, but had given no reason for his departure.

"I love the BCA," O'Hara said Thursday. "I resigned for personal reasons. I
was frustrated by the Legislature and its treatment of the BCA." He said
legislators were playing politics with money intended to build the agency a
new headquarters and crime laboratory.

Sheriff Bob Fletcher, who hired O'Hara, said he had been recruiting the
former FBI agent for the past year.

"It clearly wasn't just the BCA" funding, said Fletcher, who is a friend of
O'Hara. "Nick's not a politician. I knew there were some philosophical
differences between Nick and the governor's office."

Among the issues on which O'Hara differed with Ventura was the governor's
advocacy of legalizing hemp growing and the use of marijuana for medicinal
purposes, say O'Hara's former and current bosses.

"I'm Nick's biggest fan," said Department of Public Safety Commissioner
Charlie Weaver, a Ventura appointee. "He is a consummate cop. I think it
might have been difficult for Nick."

Weaver, however, said that Ventura was "real respectful" of O'Hara's
marijuana concerns. "The governor really responded when the BCA voiced its
concerns," Weaver said Thursday.

Neither Ventura nor his chief spokesman, John Wodele, was available to
comment Thursday.

In addition to the political differences, O'Hara saw his $67 million plan
for a new BCA headquarters and crime laboratory at Maryland and Prosperity
Avs. in St. Paul trimmed to $58 million by Ventura, then further cut in two
House committees.

"He was frustrated with that," said Sen. Randy Kelly, DFL-St. Paul, who has
championed the plan in the Senate.

"Nick for the past three years really poured his heart into that building,"
Weaver said. "I know it was really painful for Nick to see the House turn
it into a political football."

The House State Government Finance Committee recently recommended no
funding for construction, but Chairman Phil Krinkie, R-Shoreview, said that
his committee's action isn't the last word.

"It's a long way from being over," he said. "I think there will be some
funding."

House Republican leaders also said Thursday that they doubted that O'Hara
resigned because of legislative maneuvering over the facility.

"Nick had another job for quite some time," said House Crime Prevention
Committee Chairman Rich Stanek, R-Maple Grove, the only police officer in
the Legislature. "It's disingenuous to say he left because of this."

In his Ramsey County job, O'Hara will oversee the department's fugitive
apprehension and intelligence units, help plan the development and
construction of a new county jail, and serve as a liaison to other police
agencies.

"He's got great management experience," Fletcher said. "I'm hoping he can
knock down some of the barriers to cooperation."