Hanover Park Officer’s Arrest Over Visa Overstay Shocks Illinois Town & Ignites Questions About Police Vetting

Thursday, October 16, 2025, 2:00 P.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

HANOVER PARK, IL.- Federal immigration authorities arrested a police officer from the Hanover Park Police Department early Thursday morning, alleging that he has been living in the United States illegally after overstaying a tourist visa nearly a decade ago.

     According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the officer, identified as Radule Bojovic, entered the U.S. on a B-2 tourist visa in 2015 and failed to depart when it expired. The agency said Bojovic was taken into custody following an immigration enforcement operation in Hanover Park and is now being held for immigration violations.

     Hanover Park Police Chief Johnson confirmed in a brief statement that the department is cooperating fully with federal authorities. “The Hanover Park Police Department is aware of the recent immigration enforcement activity involving one of our officers,” the statement read. “We are in full cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security and will release further information as it becomes available.”

     The department did not specify Bojovic’s current employment status, rank, or whether he has been suspended pending investigation.

Questions Over Hiring And Oversight;

     The arrest has sparked immediate questions over how an individual with an expired visa was able to serve as a police officer for years without detection. Standard law enforcement hiring practices typically require extensive background checks, including fingerprint-based federal screenings and employment eligibility verification through systems such as E-Verify or the federal I-9 documentation process.

     Illinois law mandates that officers maintain proper legal work status as part of their state certification. State and municipal oversight boards may now review whether any procedural failures occurred during Bojovic’s hiring or continued employment.

     “An incident like this raises legitimate concerns about oversight within police hiring systems,” said one former law enforcement official familiar with Illinois certification procedures. “The question becomes not only how this was missed, but whether it could have been prevented by better interagency coordination.”

Legal And Departmental Fallout;

     Under U.S. immigration law, individuals who overstay a visa are considered to be in violation of federal immigration statutes and may face deportation or removal proceedings. DHS officials said Bojovic’s case will proceed through the standard immigration court process, where he will have an opportunity to challenge the allegations or request relief from removal. Additionally, Bojovic could face federal firearms charges for possessing a firearm while being illegally in the United States.

     Meanwhile, Hanover Park PD may be forced to review Bojovic’s past casework, especially if he made arrests or provided testimony in cases that could be challenged on grounds of his employment eligibility. Legal experts note that while his immigration status does not automatically invalidate prior police work, it could complicate ongoing or future prosecutions.

     Community members have begun calling for transparency and a full review of hiring and background check procedures. Some local leaders have also urged calm, emphasizing that the investigation should be allowed to proceed without political interference.

Community Impact And Next Steps;

     Residents of Hanover Park expressed surprise and frustration upon learning that a serving officer might have been in the country illegally. “You trust the police to uphold the law,” said local resident Maria Alvarez. “It’s shocking to think someone enforcing it might have been breaking it all along.”

     The Hanover Park Village Board is expected to address the situation at its next scheduled meeting. The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, which certifies police officers statewide, has not yet commented on whether it will take disciplinary action.

     For now, DHS has confirmed Bojovic remains in custody pending an immigration hearing.

Editor’s Note:

This article is based on information provided by the Department of Homeland Security, official statements from the Hanover Park Police Department, and publicly available local reporting, including from KESQ News and the Hanover Park Police Department’s verified Facebook page. Additional updates will be published as new details become available.