Kevin Gadsey, seen pictured in a photo he provided to KSTK, was accused of inappropriate behavior around children by at least two parents, prompting the borough to ban him from the Parks and Recreation locker room during kid-specific activities. He later moved out of town.
Kevin Gadsey, 49, allegedly engaged in inappropriate behavior around elementary-aged children in the swimming pool locker room, prompting at least two parents to complain to the parks and recreation department and bring their concerns to the Sentinel.
After Parks and Rec launched an investigation into the allegations, the borough served Gadsey with a no-trespassing order on Jan. 9, banning him from the facility during "kid-specific activities."
"After careful consideration" the letter read, "we must inform you that due to recent concerns regarding inappropriate behavior, you will no longer be permitted to utilize our facility during kid-specific activities. This decision has been made to prioritize the safety and comfort of all participants."
At the time, Gadsey was the domestic violence prevention specialist for the Wrangell Cooperative Association. Shortly after receiving the no-trespassing order, he resigned from the job and moved out of town.
On March 6, Gadsey informed the Sentinel that he would decline an interview request after "receiving advice and counsel from friends and colleagues."
He was hired for the WCA job in March 2024 after working at various nonprofits in Southeast Alaska dating back to 2005.
The Wrangell Police Department did not press any charges after the locker room incidents because there was no evidence that a crime had been committed. However, Police Chief Gene Meek described Gadsey's conduct as "very concerning around the youth."
The Sentinel agreed to grant anonymity to parents who came forward with allegations against Gadsey to protect the identity of their children.
One parent, who the Sentinel will refer to as X, informed Parks and Rec about Gadsey's behavior on the same day that she said he displayed inappropriate conduct around her son.
According to X, her son came home from an open swim on Jan. 6. He told X that Gadsey approached him and his friend when they were changing in the locker room. Gadsey was naked when he approached the boys.
During the interaction, X said Gadsey peppered the children with a slew of questions, asking them about Pokémon cards, swim club and how often the two boys came to the pool. X also noted that, according to her other son who witnessed the incident, Gadsey appeared to wait until all other adults had left the locker room before approaching the young boys.
This was corroborated by another parent, who the Sentinel will refer to as Y, who also attended the open swim with his own children on Jan. 6. He was in the locker room at the same time as Gadsey, but left before Gadsey approached the other children.
"He was just hanging in the corner," Y said. "I didn't think much of him. I thought he was just waiting for some privacy."
However, when one of Y's children left a bathing suit in the locker room, Y went back to retrieve it. It was then that the parent noticed Gadsey speaking with the two young boys while they changed.
"As soon as the other adult (me) left the locker room, (Gadsey) decided to strike up a conversation while they were changing," Y said. "The look on his face when I came walking in was one of 'Oh no, I'm in deep shit.'"
This was not the first time a parent noticed strange behavior by Gadsey while around children in the locker room.
X, whose son Gadsey had approached in the locker room on Jan. 6, said she initially observed questionable conduct from Gadsey in September, after a swim club practice.
The parent said Gadsey was riding the stationary bicycle in the facility that faces the pool deck. Once the children got out of the pool to head into the locker room, X said Gadsey got off the stationary bike and entered the locker room himself.
X said this was not immediately concerning, but when X's husband entered the locker room to tell their son to hurry up, he noticed that Gadsey was naked and in the showers with the children from the swim club.
While X is grateful for the action the borough took in banning Gadsey from the facility during kid-specific activities, she said she decided to approach the Sentinel about Gadsey's behavior as a possible preventative measure.
"Technically, it wasn't illegal," she said. "It's not illegal until somebody is traumatized for the rest of their life, or somebody's been hurt or physically assaulted. Then it's illegal ... but the damage has already been done."
"Yes, we live in a small town. That doesn't mean we shouldn't have the stranger-danger talk with our kids," she continued. "Props to Parks and Rec for being so on top of it."
Reader Comments(0)