Waterville Deputy police Chief Charles Rumsey and Michelle Gagleo, a Child Protective Services supervisor, were honored with Children’s Advocate awards as part of the Sexual Assault Awareness Month Celebration and Awards Ceremony earlier this week.

Rumsey and Galego are co-chairmen of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kennebec and Somerset counties. The center is a program of the Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Center.

Waterville Deputy police Chief Charles Rumsey speaks at ceremony honoring him and Michelle Gagleo of Child Protective Services for their work in support of sexual assault victims. Contributed photo

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the Tuesday Blaine House event, hosted by the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the Maine Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, was held to recognize people working to end sexual violence in Maine.

The Children’s Advocate Award was one of several issued at the event at the governor’s residence. They were handed out by Elizabeth Ward Saxl, executive director of Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Maine Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers.

Rumsey and Gelago were nominated for the award by Donna Strickler, executive director of Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Center.

Maine Attorney General Janet Mills spoke at the event, as did DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew. John Morris, commissioner of the state Department of Public Safety and a former Waterville police chief, attended the event, as did Waterville police Chief Joseph Massey.

Massey later praised Rumsey for his efforts — and for the accolade.

“I was very pleased that he was recognized for all of the work he does for the Children’s Advocacy Center and it was very well-deserved,” Massey said. “We take very seriously child sexual abuse and the Children’s Advocacy Center is a fabulous resource.”

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