Aurora Chief of Police Coatney sued, second this year

A former officer has filed a lawsuit against Aurora Chief of Police Wes Coatney alleging that he made a threat of rape to her at gunpoint.

A lawsuit alleging similar claims was filed earlier this year.

Within the lawsuit, Krissa Bliss, a former captain of detectives at the Aurora-Marionville Police Department, named the city of Aurora, the city of Marionville and Coatney as defendants.

On June 19 a petition was filed in Lawrence County court alleging that Coatney engaged in a pattern of sexual harassment, specifically against Bliss. She stated that on Feb. 26, 2025, Coatney approached Bliss and put a hand on her shoulder and soon held a knife to her throat and said he was going to rape her. According to the petition, she responded by saying “What the f***,” and pushed Coatney away from her, leaving the room as soon as she could. 

Bliss states that she reported the incident to multiple officials in both Marionville and Aurora. She also later filed a formal complaint with Marionville City Clerk Amy Holder. 

Coatney acknowledged the incident, according to the document, and responded by stating that “it was a joke,” and indicated that he had only placed the dull side of the blade to her neck. 

The petition notes subsequent instances of harassment, as well. It states that, after the original incident, Coatney attempted to apologize for the event, closed the door behind him and hugged or attempted to hug Bliss, which was unwelcome. 

It states that, during discussions regarding an internal investigation, Coatney made repeated references to rape that were unrelated to the investigation.

He also told Detective Montana Sheyenne, who also served as chaplain, about the knife incident. Sheyenne would late approach Bliss and ask her inappropriate questions about rape.

Coatney also later referred to the February incident as an “optical illusion.”

On Feb. 27, 2025 Officer Tatum Maples, along with two other officers, prepared formal memos documenting the situation on the 25th. Maples also filed a suit in which he claimed that he was wrongfully terminated after making multiple attempts to report the incident. 

The petition states that Bliss was subjected to several adverse employment actions, beginning in April. Coatney allegedly changed the work schedule and hours of Bliss, changed who she reported to, demoted her, changed her work duties among other instances. Bliss was eventually constructively discharged in November. 

The lawsuit claims sex discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, aiding and abetting, civil assault, civil battery, false imprisonment and defamation between the three defendants. A summons has been issued for the cities of Aurora and Marionville. 

Bliss is seeking damages of $5 million or five times actual damages from the cities. She is seeking further damages against Coatney himself.