Police Department Restates Support Of CeaseFire, Despite Director's Arrest [UPDATE]

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 3, 2013 10:20PM

The Chicago Police Department has given anti-violence group CeaseFire Illinois the proverbial vote of confidence, days after its executive director Tio Hardiman was arrested on domestic battery charges.

DNAinfo Chicago reports Police Supt. Garry McCarthy as saying CeaseFire "is going to be evaluated on its success or failure and how effective it is — not this issue with Tio Hardiman, as far as I’m concerned.

Hardiman was arrested last Friday and charged with domestic battery after his wife, Alison, entered a police station in Hillside, saying an argument between the two escalated and turned violent. Alison Hardiman refused medical attention.

Tio Hardiman says he's innocent of the charges and hadn't had a problem with his wife in the 13 years they were married. He also claimed to have had a "spiritual awakening" while he was in jail waiting for his $20,000 bond to be posted.

As we mentioned Friday, this isn't Hardiman's first domestic battery allegation. He pleaded guilty to a 1999 charge and was sentenced to a year of court supervision. Hardiman has been placed on administrative leave by CeaseFire Illinois.

Update 5:55 p.m.: CeaseFire Illinois released a statement Monday afternoon announcing Hardiman's contract will not be renewed after it expires June 30 and a search for a permanent replacement is already underway.

Jason Arthur, who helped replicate CeaseFire's "Cure Violence" model in 15 different cities, will serve as interim director.