ST. PAUL, Minn. — A second high-ranking St. Paul police officer has claimed that St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her created a sexualized work environment, alleging the mayor commented on her breasts and made vulgar noises in the police gym.

The accusations were lodged as part of the ongoing inquiry by an outside law firm into Her’s conduct after St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry came forward on behalf of himself and other city employees earlier this year.

In a letter to the St. Paul City Attorney’s Office, Henry alleged that Her’s inappropriate behavior “extended beyond isolated incidents.”

Her has acknowledged that some of her “attempts at humor” fell flat.

But on Thursday afternoon, as more details began to trickle out about the nature of Her’s comments to staff, she released a statement saying the police force had welcomed her into their circle and was now manipulating that trust.

“The way this is being portrayed in the media does not reflect what I understood,” Her said in response to questions from the Minnesota Star Tribune. “I am disappointed that I was invited and brought into their space and culture and now this is the outcome. As I stated yesterday, I respect the investigative process and believe it is important to allow it to reach its conclusion.”

Her allegedly began making waves inside the police department almost immediately after taking office, according to people familiar with the investigation.

Some uncomfortable encounters reportedly occurred at the St. Paul Police Department’s headquarters, where Her regularly used the officers’ gym and locker room. During one instance early in her tenure, later relayed to investigators, Her approached a female deputy chief in the women’s locker room and asked if her own breasts were too large — before complimenting the deputy’s chief’s breasts, according to two people briefed on the interaction. Sources say the two women did not know each other on a personal level.

The mayor also allegedly made “orgasmic noises” in what appeared to be a performative manner while stretching in front of others at the gym, sources told the Star Tribune.

Her’s behavior has also raised eyebrows outside the gym. She taped her own mayoral portrait over framed photos of high-ranking police officials mounted on the wall of the police department’s administrative offices.

Over the face of another deputy chief, Her allegedly posted a promotional image of 10 shirtless UFC fighters with glitzy championship belts draped over each of their shoulders. But the faces of real St. Paul Police officers had been superimposed on their bodies; Chief Henry stood front and center.

The Minnesota Star Tribune viewed a photograph of the wall of altered photos — evidence later submitted to the outside law firm as part of the harassment probe — which clearly shows the doctored image.

At the time, the deputy chief tried to push back against the mayor for defacing the pictures. The mayor’s behavior, both in the gym and in the office, was so unsettling to the veteran law enforcement official that she had several discussions with her family about what to do. She later resigned from the department.

Joe Thompson, the attorney representing the deputy chief, declined to comment on the allegations.

In an earlier statement Wednesday, Her said: “I take my responsibility to treat every employee with professionalism and respect very seriously.” The mayor added that her office has “fully cooperated” with the investigation and will continue to do so. “I remain confident that the full facts will come to light, and I will continue to focus on serving the people of St. Paul with integrity and dedication.”

Her became the first woman and Hmong person elected St. Paul’s mayor last fall when she beat two-term incumbent Melvin Carter. Now, six months into her tenure, the allegations have emerged as a distraction as Her works to establish herself with the city’s voters and enact an agenda, including the need to close a large budget deficit.

The mayor’s behavior has come under scrutiny since news of the investigation surfaced. Minnesota law enforcement and political leaders have been left baffled by the accusations, but few people have reacted publicly to the news.

If true, the new allegations would show a pattern of bawdy communication from the mayor to subordinate city employees.

The letter to the St. Paul City Attorney’s Office naming Henry as the formal complainant contained a text message allegedly sent by Her to a city employee that read “Happy Weiner Wednesday!” with Her expressing regret she wouldn’t be able to eat a hot dog with the employee that day.

Beneath the message was an internet meme showing a swaddled baby with an adult’s head. Above the photo, a caption read, “When she wraps you up in a blanket after you gave her a good weinering.”

A person familiar with the inquiry said the image had been altered by Her to include the face of a St. Paul police officer assigned to her security detail superimposed on the baby’s body.

A small group of staff at the St. Paul Police Department occasionally gather to eat hot dogs each week in what has been informally dubbed “Wiener Wednesdays.”

The law firm investigating Her and the St. Paul Police Department have declined comment.

Her is currently attempting to close a $26 million budget gap, the largest St. Paul has seen in recent years. She is expected to propose tax increases and spending cuts that could impact the police department.

Henry’s attorney, Chris Madel, denied that the complaint had anything to do with the police department budget.

“That could not be further from the truth,” he said.

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(Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Josie Albertson-Grove contributed to this story.)

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