A man appointed as an official “peacekeeper” under Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson’s city program was arrested last week after authorities say he struck a Chicago police officer during an attempted arrest.

The individual, identified as 30-year-old Chester Alexander, is part of Chicago’s “Peacekeepers Program,” a state-funded initiative intended to reduce police involvement in high-crime neighborhoods by designating community members to intervene in local disputes.

According to police, the incident occurred on September 22 after officers pulled over a stolen vehicle.

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The driver fled on foot but was later corralled by responding officers.

As police attempted to make the arrest, multiple members of the public gathered around the officers. Among them was Alexander, who officers say began to interfere with the situation.

When ordered to step back, Alexander allegedly became aggressive.

“At that time, Chester Alexander swung his left hand and struck [an officer] with his closed fist and immediately took a fighting stance while holding both hands close to his face,” the police report stated.

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Authorities said officers responded with force to subdue him.

One officer “performed closed hand strikes to Alexander about the chest and performed knee strikes to his stomach area as assisting officers placed handcuffs on Alexander,” according to the same report.

After Alexander was taken into custody, police reported discovering illegal drugs in his pockets.

He was charged with felony aggravated battery of a peace officer, felony resisting, and felony possession of a controlled substance.

The arrest highlights a growing number of controversies surrounding the “Peacekeepers Program.”

In 2023, another member of the program, Oscar Montes, was arrested and charged with robbery and assault in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. Montes was later sentenced to nine years in prison.

In August 2024, police reported that several peacekeepers attempted to interfere with officers making an arrest in Streeterville, raising further questions about the role of program participants in active law enforcement situations.

More recently, earlier this month, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker faced criticism after photos surfaced of him meeting with a peacekeeper who was later charged with murder.

That individual was allegedly involved in a fatal car crash while fleeing police in a chase following a major downtown robbery. Pritzker’s office quickly moved to delete the photos from public view.

The “Peacekeepers Program,” backed with state funding, has been promoted as an alternative method for reducing tensions and violence in neighborhoods historically impacted by crime.

However, repeated arrests and criminal charges involving its members have led to growing scrutiny from both the public and law enforcement officials.

Alexander remains in custody as the case moves forward. Police officials have not released further details on the stolen vehicle incident that led to the altercation.

The Chicago Police Department said the investigation into both the driver and Alexander is ongoing.

The latest arrest marks another setback for a program initially launched to reduce conflict, but which has repeatedly faced questions over accountability and oversight.

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