Staff Reports
The headline is ugly and the players are public servants. Police Chief Axel Henry has taken Mayor Kaohly Her and the City of St. Paul to court. He filed a civil lawsuit accusing the mayor of sexualized behavior, unwanted touching, and a campaign of retaliation after he complained. This fight is no longer an internal personnel matter. It has landed in the courthouse where facts, documents, and sworn testimony can be examined under oath.
Allegations laid out in the lawsuit
The complaint makes plain and unsettling claims. It says Mayor Kaohly Her made sexually explicit comments, once put her hand on Chief Henry’s upper thigh during a meeting, and even mimicked orgasm-like noises at the police gym. The suit also alleges a threat that if the mayor didn’t get her way she would accuse the chief of grabbing her. Those are serious charges, and they are detailed in a court filing now open to public review. If true, this is not merely poor taste. It is an abuse of power.
City HR says “offensive and inappropriate,” but stopped short
The city’s human resources summary found the mayor’s conduct was “offensive and inappropriate” and that she created an uncomfortable work environment. But HR did not formally substantiate sexual harassment or retaliation. That split – a blunt condemnation without legal findings – is what pushed Chief Henry’s team to sue. His attorney called the HR summary a “sanitized, self‑serving whitewash.” Translation: they want the full investigation and evidence aired in court, not buried in a short memo.
Why this matters for St. Paul and public trust
This case is about more than two people who dislike each other. It is about leadership, safety, and whether city leaders follow the rules they set for everyone else. A mayor who behaves inappropriately with the police chief creates chaos at the top of public safety. The lawsuit opens the door to discovery — emails, witness statements, and documents that could show whether the mayor’s office tried to hide or minimize the conduct. Voters, city employees, and officers deserve clarity, not spin.
What should happen next
The court process should run its course. The city should release the full HR report and stop treating the public to half-answers. If the facts in the complaint are borne out by evidence, the proper outcome is accountability — up to and including resignation. If they are not, the chief’s reputation should be cleared. Either way, St. Paul needs transparency and a firm commitment to professional conduct from its highest officials. No one gets to be above that, not even the mayor.
