The fast-growing St. Louis suburb of Wentzville has become known for internal political turmoil, with the latest example Police Chief Lisa Harrison's April 11 lawsuit against the city, Mayor Nick Guccione and two aldermen, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Among other things, Harrison accused them of conducting a “gender-based harassment campaign to discredit her.” They denied that.
Harrison's suit says during 2012, her first year as chief, she observed conduct by elected officials that raised concerns of “improper executive and or political influence” over police operations. She said she then sought to enforce policies to address that. As a result, she alleges, she was subjected to the harassment campaign. Richard Sheets, deputy executive director of the Missouri Municipal League, said lawsuits against cities by working department directors are unusual. He said the chief-vs.-mayor suit places Wentzville city administrator in a “terrible situation” because he has to work with both.