FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — As a manhunt continues for convicted murderer and rapist Grant Hardin, NewsNation affiliate KNWA is learning more about Hardin’s extensive history in Northwest Arkansas’ law enforcement.
In August of 1990, Hardin was employed by the Fayetteville Police Department and underwent required field training. On May 22, 1991, Hardin’s employment was terminated.
In a letter from former Fayetteville Police Chief Richard L. Watson addressed to Hardin, it stated, “Effective today, your employment with the Fayetteville Police Department is terminated. Since your employment on August 6, 1990, your Field Training Officers, supervisors, and I have observed your performance and determined your efforts fall short of the average probationary officer.”
The letter further goes on to state the exact reasoning for his termination, stating, “Your tendency not to accept constructive criticism, along with indecisiveness under stressful situations, played a major role in my decision.”
Hardin was also employed by the Huntsville Police Department in 1991. KNWA is working to learn more about his employment in Huntsville.
After his time at Huntsville PD, Hardin was employed by the Eureka Springs Police Department.
In an interview with KNWA, Former Eureka Springs Police Chief Earl Hyatt says he was hired as chief in 1996 during Hardin’s time as an officer at the department. Hyatt says Hardin worked beneath him for about six weeks.
In those six weeks, Hyatt says he found three major violations that constituted his termination from the department, including that he “lied on a police report” and “used excessive force.” Hyatt says that as an officer, Hardin was “abusive, excessive, and volatile.” He also stated that “he had a very bad temper,” and that “he did not need to be a police officer at all.”
“I just thought that he was a terrible police officer, that he was not good for the public, and that he was dangerous,” Hyatt said.
Hardin’s employment from 1996-2008 remains unclear.
In 2009, Hardin ran a successful campaign as Benton County constable and was later reelected.
According to the Arkansas Department of Corrections, in November 2016, Hardin was employed at the Northwest Arkansas Community Correction Center in Fayetteville.
There, he worked as a corrections officer until February 2017, when he was arrested for the murder of James Appleton. ADOC says that during his time at NWACCC, there were no records on file of major disciplinary actions.
In 2017, Hardin was hired as the police chief of Gateway before resigning months later.