Local: Request for FOI in Ardis case is unfortunate, but not unique

November 16, 2007
By Billy Dennis

I don’t do the day-to-day police reporting that PJS reporter Leslie Fark does for the Journal Star. But I’ve done a little bit of it, not so much these days. And I can say that the Peoria Police Department has in the past asked me to fill out a Freedom fo Information Act request for information.

Granted, this was to search for an arrest report in the not-too recent past.

I cannot imagine why it would take the police a whole lot of time to find a police report involving the head the firefighter’s union, and who happens to be brother to the mayor. The incident happened on Sunday and the PJS apparently received the documents it sought today. A “breaking news” version is on the Web now. One assumes a more full version will be in print and on the Web tomorrow.

I’ve been critical of coverage of the mayor’s family before. But Tony Ardis is a public official in his own right, so coverage of this case was inevitable. He was not going to be covered by the media in exactly the same way that some non-public figure would be if charged with aggravated battery, a felony charge, stemming from what the JS called a “scuffle.”

The charges are what they are. He’s been arrested, and he’ll have to face up to it.

UPDATED: Here is the follow up. I agree with Settingsgaard in that it was inevitable that the press would find out about this. So why not be completely upfront and make sure it gets out there by including Tony Ardis’ name in the incident report? Why make the press wait to get the details by filing an FOI request? It makes no sense. There is certainly no political advantage to it.

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8 Responses to “ Local: Request for FOI in Ardis case is unfortunate, but not unique ”

  1. Mazr on November 17, 2007 at 12:04 am

    From what I was told today, Ardis was also in a fight at the yearly firefighters gathering (fundraiser), apparently with another firefighter.

  2. Billy Dennis on November 17, 2007 at 12:08 am

    Yeah, there’s lots of rumors. There were also rumors about other family members which which were later discounted by sources in a position to know.

  3. Steph Handy on November 17, 2007 at 9:14 am

    The story about the fight with another firefighter is not a rumor Billy Dennis. It is a true story. When some one reaches 40 yrs old and fights a 25 year old at a house party as the aggressor, that is not the first time he has fought some one. Stupid actions like this do not just start at 40. I just feel bad for the Peoria fire fighters who have to now listen and read about this story that depicts a negative light on their union.

  4. Peo Proud on November 17, 2007 at 12:16 pm

    Kinda interesting that you link to the arrest section in the PJS as a normal component of your daily news compilation posts (and telling people to look to see if their friends, family or neighbors are listed) but criticize the PJS for commenting on the arrest of a well known public figure.

  5. Billy Dennis on November 17, 2007 at 1:06 pm

    Where am I criticizing the Journal Star? The harshest thing I wrote about the PJS is that asking for an FOIA request isn’t unheard of. Indeed, I state that the press would have covered this arrest anyway because Tony Ardis is a public figure in his own right. I share the JS’s concern about the timely release of data.

  6. pollypeoria on November 18, 2007 at 3:33 pm

    The PJ Star reported that Ardis accused Dany of being “romantically involved” with his wife. Knowing the editoral board at the Journal Star, this could mean that Dany was obnoxiously hitting on, harassing, or stalking Ardis’ wife. That is, leave it to the PJ Star to get wrong… on purpose.

  7. someone who knows on November 25, 2007 at 7:14 am

    I was a victim of an attack by Tony Ardis back in ‘92 or ‘93 (I’m sure this report could be located at the PPD utilizing the FOI also). Mr Ardis was charged with Assault and issued a Notice to Appear. I later received a letter from Kevin Lyons office (only after I inquired) explaining why Mr Ardis’ actions did not constitute assault, which they clearly did.

  8. BOB BULLOCK on December 9, 2007 at 9:36 pm

    TO ALL WHO NEEDS TO KNOW WE ALL COME ACROSS A TIME IN OUR LIFE WHEN SOMETHING TRIGGERS OUR INTER PERSON I CAN ONLY TELL YOU THAT AS MUCH PAIN AS HE HAS COME ACROSS LET ALONE FELT ALL I HAVE TO SAY I HAVE ACTED OUT IN SIMILAR WAYS BUT WE ALL REPRESS ANGER AS WELL AS PAIN I TRUELEY FEEL HIS PAIN I STILL HAVE NOT COME TO GRIP THE LOSS OF HIS PAIN OR HIS LOSS I MISS MY BEST FRIEND I LOVED HIM LIKE MY OWN BROTHER HE WAS THE ONLY ONE I HAD I TRUELY UNDERSTAND