Aurora Police Chief Wes Coatney (pictured) held a knife to a female officer's throat and said he could rape her and there was nothing she could do about it, according to a lawsuit filed Friday in Lawrence County Circuit Court.
The lawsuit is the second to lodge that claim against Coatney. The first, which was filed March 17 by former Aurora-Marionville Police Department Corporal Tatum Maples, claimed Maples was fired after he filed a complaint against Coatney and claimed his right as a whistleblower were violated.
The latest legal action was filed by the officer referred to in Maples' lawsuit, Krissa Sue Bliss, Marionville, a captain of detectives and 13-year department veteran, and alleges sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, false imprisonment and defamation.
Listed as defendants, in addition to Coatney, are the cities of Aurora and Marionville.
The Sexual Harassment directed towards Plaintiff Krissa Bliss was severe where it included a physical assault, restraint, unnecessary physical contact and the threat of sexual violence and rape and was pervasive where the other conduct constituting the Sexual Harassment was repeated, continuous and on-going.
The Sexual Harassment directed towards Plaintiff Krissa Bliss was so severe and pervasive that it altered the terms, conditions and privileges of employment and created a work environment that was hostile, abusive and intimidating and that would be found by a reasonable person to be hostile, abusive and intimidating.
SEXUAL ASSAULT INCIDENT
On February 26, 2025, while working in the conference room at the Aurora Police Department, Defendant Wes Coatney sexually assaulted (“Sex Assault Incident”) as follows:
a. Defendant Wes Coatney approached Plaintiff Krissa Bliss from beside her and placed his one hand on her shoulder.
b. Defendant Wes Coatney then held an open pocketknife in menacing manner two to three inches from the neck and throat of Plaintiff Krissa Bliss.
c. While holding the pocketknife to her neck and throat, Defendant Wes Coatney stated “I’m going to rape you” to Plaintiff Krissa Bliss.
Plaintiff Krissa Bliss was shocked, terrified and rendered distraught by the Sexual Assault Incident and immediately responded by saying “What the f--k,” physically pushing Defendant Wes Coatney away from her, and escaping the conference room as soon as she had an opportunity to break free in distress.
REPORTING OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
On February 26, 2025, after the Sexual Assault Incident, Plaintiff Krissa Bliss objected to and opposed the Sexual Assault Incident and the Sexual Harassment and confronted Defendant Wes Coatney regarding the Sexual Assault Incident.
Defendant Wes Coatney acknowledged the Sexual Assault Incident and responded in a dismissive manner stating "it was a joke” indicating that he had placed the dull edge of the blade to her throat.
On or about February 27, 2025, Lieutenant Levi Bruner, Sergeant Daniel Gonzalez, and Officer Tatum Maples prepared formal memos documenting the Sexual Assault Incident and/or their observation relating to the Sexual Assault Incident.
The Sexual Assault Incident was initially reported to:
a. Carrie Howlett, then Acting City Manager for Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri, and Kamy Kulow, City Clerk and Human Resources Director for Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri; and
b. Erica Pierce, City Clerk for Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri.
After the initial reporting of the Sexual Assault Incident, Plaintiff Krissa Bliss filed a formal complaint with Amy Holder, Deputy City Clerk and Collector for Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, reporting the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Incident, who shared the complaint with Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri.
Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, ratified and approved, or, in the alternative, permitted and condoned the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Incident.
SUBSEQUENT INCIDENTS AND CONTINUED HARASSMENT
Subsequent to Sexual Assault Incident, Plaintiff Krissa Blissa was subjected to continued sexual harassment (“Continued Sexual Harassment”) as follows:
a. On February 26, 2025, and February 27, 2025, Defendant Wes Coatney commented on or made repeated references to the Sexual Assault Incident, characterized the Sexual Assault Incident as “a joke,” and described sexual violence and rape in gaming as “fun.”
b. On March 13, 2025, Defendant Wes Coatney entered the office of Plaintiff Krissa Bliss, closed the door to the office, apologized or attempted to apologize for the Sexual Assault Incident, and hugged or attempted to hug Plaintiff Krissa Bliss, which actions were unwelcome.
c. Based on information and belief, Defendant Wes Coatney disclosed the occurrence of the Sexual Assault Incident to Detective Montana Sheyenne and other law enforcement officers assigned to the Aurora-Marionville Police Department and to other members of the general public.
d. During the week following March 13, 2025, Detective Montana Sheyenne, who also served as the Departmental Chaplain, approached Plaintiff Krissa Bliss and asked inappropriate questions about anal rape.
e. On April 1, 2025, during discussions regarding an internal investigation, Defendant Wes Coatney used rape as an example and made repeated references to rape unrelated to the internal investigation with the intent to cause discomfort, embarrassment, shame and humiliation to Plaintiff Krissa Bliss.
f. Based on information and belief, Defendant Wes Coatney publicly denied the occurrence of the Sexual Assault Incident to Detective Montana Sheyenne and other law enforcement officers assigned to the Aurora-Marionville Police Department, to other elected officials and employees of Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, and to unknown members of the general public.
On April 3, 2025, Defendant Wes Coatney denied that the Sexual Assault Incident was sexual in nature stating to Plaintiff Krissa Bliss and Lieutenant Levi Bruner that the Sexual Assault Incident as an "optical illusion" and that the Sexual Assault Incident was intended as “a joke."
On each occasion, when Plaintiff Krissa Bliss was present or when Plaintiff Krissa Bliss discovered the individual acts and events constituting the Continued Sexual Harassment, Plaintiff Krissa Bliss immediately objected to and opposed the Continued Sexual Harassment.
Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, ratified and approved, or, in the alternative, permitted and condoned the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Incident.
ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTIONS
Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri, and/or Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, made, took or otherwise subjected Plaintiff Krissa Bliss to the following adverse employment actions (“Adverse Employment Actions”), to wit:
a. On April 21, 2025, Defendant Wes Coatney, Chief of Police of the Aurora- Marionville Police Department, changed the work schedule and hours of Plaintiff Krissa Bliss and changed the reporting structure so that Plaintiff Krissa Bliss so that she reported to Captain Pat Jenkins.
b. On April 24, 2025, Defendant Wes Coatney, Chief of Police of the Aurora- Marionville Police Department, demoted Plaintiff Krissa Bliss from Captain of Detectives to Captain/Detective.
c. On April 24, 2025, Defendant Wes Coatney, Chief of Police of the Aurora- Marionville Police Department, changed the work duties of Plaintiff Krissa Bliss, including, but not limited to, changes to the reporting structure, supervisory oversight, case assignments, report review process, updates and case management process, investigative operations, documentation process and requirements, and schedules and work hours.
d. On or prior to June 12, 2025, Defendant Wes Coatney, Chief of Police of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department, created the new position of Deputy Chief, promoted Pat Jenkins from Captain to Deputy Chief without posting the position or promotional opportunity.
e. On multiple dates, Defendant Wes Coatney, Chief of Police of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department, provided less favorable work assignments to Plaintiff Krissa Bliss, including, but not limited to, internal investigations involving sexual harassment.
f. On November 14, 2025, Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri, and/or Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, constructively discharge Plaintiff Krissa Bliss.
Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, ratified and approved the Adverse Employment Actions or, in the alternative, permitted and condoned the Adverse Employment Actions.
When Plaintiff Krissa Bliss was present or when Plaintiff Krissa Bliss discovered the individual acts and events constituting the Adverse Employment Actions, Plaintiff Krissa Bliss immediately objected to and opposed the Adverse Employment Actions.
PROTECTED ACTIVITY
Plaintiff Krissa Bliss exercised her rights and engaged in activity protected under the Missouri Human Rights Act, §213.010 R.S.Mo., et seq. (“Protected Activity”) as follows:
a. Plaintiff Krissa Bliss opposed sex discrimination, sex harassment and retaliation in the workplace of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department by objecting to the Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault Incident, Continued Sexual Harassment, and Adverse Employment Actions at or near the time of the occurrence of the Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault Incident, Continued Sexual Harassment, and Adverse Employment Actions;
b. Plaintiff Krissa Bliss opposed sex discrimination, sex harassment and retaliation in the workplace of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department by reporting the Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault Incident, Continued Sexual Harassment, and Adverse Employment Actions to Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and/or Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri; and
c. Plaintiff Krissa Bliss opposed sex discrimination, sex harassment and retaliation in the workplace of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department by supplying information and participating in the investigation of the Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault Incident, Continued Sexual Harassment, and Adverse Employment Actions by Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri, and/or Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri.
43. After Plaintiff Krissa Bliss objected to, opposed and reported the Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault Incident, Continued Sexual Harassment, and Adverse Employment Actions, Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri, and/or Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, retaliated against Plaintiff Krissa Bliss or otherwise subjected Plaintiff Krissa Bliss to retaliation (“Retaliation”) as follows:
a. Defendant Wes Coatney, Chief of Police of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department, engaged in a retaliatory scheme intended to punish Plaintiff Krissa Bliss for engaged in the Protected Activity;
b. Defendant Wes Coatney, as the Chief of Police of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department and as an employee of Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, demoted Plaintiff Krissa Bliss from Captain of Detectives to Captain/Detective.
c. Defendant Wes Coatney, as the Chief of Police of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department and as an employee of Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, changed the work duties of Plaintiff Krissa Bliss, including, but not limited to, changes in reporting structure, supervisory oversight, case assignments, report review process, updates and case management process, investigative operations, documentation process and requirements, and schedules and work hours.
d. Defendant Wes Coatney, as the Chief of Police of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department and as an employee of Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, provided less favorable work assignments to Plaintiff Krissa Bliss, including, but not limited to, internal investigation involving sexual harassment.
e. Defendant Wes Coatney, as the Chief of Police of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department and as an employee of Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, promoted Pat Jenkins from Captain to Deputy Chief and changed the reporting structure of Plaintiff Krissa Bliss from Defendant Wes Coatney to Captain Jenkins.
f. Defendant Wes Coatney, as the Chief of Police of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department and as an employee of Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, intentionally created intolerable working conditions intending to target Plaintiff Krissa Bliss for dismissal or, in the alternative, to force Plaintiff Krissa Bliss to resign.
g. Defendant Wes Coatney, as the Chief of Police of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department and as an employee of Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, engaged in Continued Harassment intended to humiliate and embarrass Plaintiff Krissa Bliss.
i. Defendant Wes Coatney, as the Chief of Police of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department and as an employee of Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, publicly denied the Sexual Assault Incident.
j. Defendant Wes Coatney, as the Chief of Police of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department and as an employee of Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, made disparaging statements regarding the accuracy and/or truthfulness of the reports of the Sexual Assault Incident and Sexual Harassment made by Plaintiff Krissa Bliss and other law enforcement officers with the intent to ostracize Plaintiff Krissa Bliss and deprive Plaintiff Krissa Bliss of support of her supervisors, co-workers and the general public.
k. Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and/or Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, deprived Plaintiff Krissa Bliss of promotional opportunities within the Aurora- Marionville Police Department.
l. Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and/or Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, permitted and condoned the Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault Incident, Continued Sexual Harassment, and Retaliation.
m. Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and/or Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, failed to adequately investigate the reports of Sexual Assault Incident and Sexual Harassment made by Plaintiff Krissa Bliss and other law enforcement officers.
n. Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and/or Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, failed to adequately investigate the reports of Sexual Assault Incident and Sexual Harassment made by Plaintiff Krissa Bliss and other law enforcement officers.
o. Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and/or Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, failed to take any effect corrective action to address or otherwise abate the Sexual Harassment, Continued Sexual Harassment and Retaliation.
p. Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and/or Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, created and maintained or, in the alternative, permitted the creation and maintenance of intolerable working conditions directed towards Plaintiff Krissa Bliss that were hostile, abusive and intimidating.
On each occasion, Plaintiff Krissa Bliss objected to and opposed the Retaliation.
CONSTRUCTIVE DISCHARGE
Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri, and/or Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, constructively discharged (“Constructive Discharge”) as follows:
a. Defendant Wes Coatney, as the Chief of Police of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department and as an employee of Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, in concert with other supervisory employees, engaged in a continuous and escalating course of conduct directed at Plaintiff Krissa Bliss, including Sexual Harassment, the Sexual Assault Incident, Continued Sexual Harassment, Adverse Employment Actions, and Retaliation.
b. The foregoing continuous and escalating course of conduct was not isolated or accidental, occurred repeatedly, intensified after the Sexual Assault Incident and further intensified after Plaintiff engaged in Protected Activity, and formed a continuous pattern of mistreatment.
c. Plaintiff Krissa Bliss reported and objected to Defendant Wes Coatney’s conduct to Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri, and/or Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, on multiple occasions.
d. Plaintiff Krissa Bliss requested that Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri, and/or Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri fully and completely investigate Defendant Wes Coatney’s conduct and the Sexual Assault Incident, take corrective action to abate the Sexual Harassment, Continued Sexual Harassment, and Retaliation, including, but not limited to, the discipline of Defendant Wes Coatney, as the Chief of Police of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department and as an employee of Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, and to protect Plaintiff Krissa Bliss from Sexual Harassment, Continued Sexual Harassment and Retaliation.
e. Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, had actual knowledge of Plaintiff Krissa Bliss’ complaints relating to the Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault Incident, Continued Sexual Harassment, and Retaliation and was aware and fully informed of the worsening working conditions.
f. Despite that knowledge, Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, failed and refused to take prompt and effective remedial action.
g. Instead of correcting the problem, Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and/or Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, ignored Plaintiff Krissa Bliss’ complaints, condoned and ratified the conduct of Defendant Wes Coatney, and failed to protect Plaintiff Krissa Bliss from Retaliation.
h. As a result, the working conditions of Plaintiff Krissa Bliss became objectively intolerable and a reasonable person in Plaintiff Krissa Bliss’ circumstances would have found the conditions so difficult, humiliating, hostile, and untenable that continued employment was not a realistic option.
i. On November 14, 2025, Plaintiff Krissa Bliss involuntarily resigned her position with the Aurora-Marionville Police Department and accepted alternate employment with Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri due to the intolerable working conditions.
j. Plaintiff Krissa Bliss resigned only after Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, failed and refused to take prompt and effective remedial action.
k. Plaintiff Krissa Bliss did not resign impulsively or because of a single workplace disagreement. Prior to resigning, Plaintiff Krissa Bliss attempted to preserve the employment relationship, continued to work under intolerable working conditions, and afforded Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, to remedy the intolerable working conditions.
m. Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, failed to remedy the intolerable working conditions and allowed and permitted the intolerable working conditions to continue.
n. By allowing and permitting the intolerable working conditions to continue, Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, intended to force Plaintiff Krissa Bliss’ resignation or, at minimum, knew or reasonably should have known that its conduct and failure to act would compel Plaintiff Krissa Bliss to resign.
o. After enduring the intolerable working conditions over an extended period of time, Plaintiff Krissa Bliss had no reasonable alternative but to resign. Plaintiff Krissa Bliss’ resignation was therefore not voluntary in any meaningful sense but was the direct and foreseeable consequence of the deliberate creation and maintenance of intolerable working conditions by Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri.
ANIMUS TOWARDS
At all times relevant hereto, Defendant Wes Coatney, as the Chief of Police of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department and as an employee of Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, is and was the primary decision maker relating to employment, operation and related actions taken, conducted engaged in, and decisions made by the Aurora-Marionville Police Department.
In taking the actions, engaging in the conduct and making the decisions constituting Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault Incident, Continued Sexual Harassment, Retaliation, and Constructive Discharge, Defendant Wes Coatney, as the Chief of Police of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department and as an employee of Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, acted with animus towards Plaintiff Krissa Bliss based on her sex and/or based on her objection, opposition to, and reporting of the Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault Incident, Continued Sexual Harassment and Retaliation.
Plaintiff Krissa Bliss’s sex and/or her objection, opposition to and reporting of the Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault Incident, Continued Sexual Harassment and Retaliation played a role in and had a determinative influence on the actions taken, conduct engaged in, and decisions made by Defendant Wes Coatney, as the Chief of Police of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department and as an employee of Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, on behalf of Defendant City of Aurora, Missouri and/or Defendant City of Marionville, Missouri, in the management of the Aurora-Marionville Police Department.
Bliss, who is represented by Joan M. Swartz, Maplewood, and Ryan S. Shaughnessy, St. Louis, is asking for damages, punitive damages, fees and costs and is demanding a jury trial.
