Tio Hardiman will not be Retained by CeaseFire after Abuse Allegations

Former Director of CeaseFire Tio Hardiman, was arrested and released on a $20,000 bond for allegedly battering his wife of eight years.
Former Director of CeaseFire Tio Hardiman, was arrested and released on a $20,000 bond for allegedly battering his wife of eight years.
Photo By: Photo: BBC World Service

By Lee Edwards

Tio Hardiman will not have his contract renewed on June 30 to remain the director of the University of Illinois at Chicago operated anti-violent organization CeaseFire following charges and an arrest for domestic violence.

“As a matter of established policy, CeaseFire and the University of Illinois have zero tolerance for anyone with domestic-related charges, or crimes against women or children, currently or in their background,” said Dr. Gary Slutkin, founder of CeaseFire and director of its’ flagship organization Cure Violence.

Cordelia Ryan, Executive Director of Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC), located in Chicago, IL told the Chicago Citizen Newspaper, “Domestic violence is very common and we need to take it very seriously. It’s apparent that many people think of domestic violence as a trivial matter when it’s really a life and death situation; we see a lot of women who are [victims] of power and control and really have nowhere to turn and we’re one of the programs that are available.”

Hardiman, 50, who has worked with CeaseFire since 1999, was released after posting a $20,000 bond for allegedly assaulting his 47-year-old wife, Alice. Prosecutors state that Mrs. Hardiman had suffered bruises, a cut to her neck and a swollen lip when she filed her report with police the Friday after the alleged assault at the couple’s Hillside home on Friday, May 31. The Hardimans have been together for 12 years and have been married eight years according to Mr. Hardiman.

According to the Cure Violence website, “Cure Violence reverses the spread of violence by using the methods and strategies associated with disease control-detection and interruption, identifying individuals involved in transmission, and changing social norms of the communities where it occurs.”

A study conducted by Northwestern University that was funded by the National Institute of Justice produced data that stated there was a 41% to 73% decrease in shootings in eight targeted Chicago communities over an eight year span where Cure Violence was implemented.

Hardiman told the Chicago Citizen Newspaper that he has not had contact with neither his wife nor children since the incident. He added, too, that thousands of people have reached out to him in support including Father Michael Pfleger of Saint Sabina, Rev. Dr. Marshall Hatch Sr. of New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church of West Chicago, City officials including aldermen and state officials.

Hardiman stated that he has also received negative feedback as well from people he’s come across. He stated he had conversations where people have asked, “What’s going on with you man? Especially coming from a guy like you it just doesn’t make any sense.”

Hardiman has been advised by his lawyer not to reveal details concerning what happened precisely on the night In question.

“I plan to start my own chapter of CeaseFire moving forward and interrupt domestic abuse as well because there’s a serious need to address domestic violence and I think that I may take on some of that work as we move forward on a higher level,” said Hardiman. “When I used to work for CeaseFire, we did good job of getting violence down in a lot of areas but now it really makes me feel good to see incidents of domestic violence decrease throughout the City of Chicago.”

CeaseFire has named Candice M. Kane, Ph.D., J.D. as its new interim director. The Chicago Citizen Newspaper left messages which went unanswered to Cure Violence at press time.

“I love my wife and as long as I can get my wife back I think we can rebuild,” said Hardiman.

For more information about Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC) their 24-hour Hotline number is (773) 278-4566.

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