(The Center Square)–Statehouse Republicans say Illinois law facilitated the hiring of a non-citizen migrant as a police officer in a Chicago suburb.
State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, said Hanover Park hired Montenegro national Radule Bojovic after he overstayed a tourist visa that expired in 2015 and lost a job at a clothing store due to immigration work authorization issues.
Niemerg spoke at an Illinois Freedom Caucus press conference at the Illinois Capitol Monday. He said that under state sanctuary policies, Illinois State Police do not check immigration status or Department of Homeland Security violations during background checks for law enforcement employment.
Niemerg said the Hanover Police Department helped Bojovic apply for Firearm Owners Identification.
“The very first question that you’re asked when you apply for a FOID card is, ‘Are you a United States citizen,’ and now they’re pointing to a 2024 [Department of Justice] memo under the Biden administration saying that he’s allowed to carry a firearm while he’s on duty,” Niemerg said. “Now you have a noncitizen with police powers over the citizenry of the state of Illinois given a roundabout back door to violate the FOID card act and break the Constitution and the laws we have in the state of Illinois to carry a firearm.”
Before Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted House Bill 3751 in 2023, it was unlawful under state statute for local governments to employ or allow noncitizens to serve in law enforcement.
Niemerg said Hanover Park rehired Bojovic even after U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement officers arrested him during Operation Midway Blitz.
“The Democrats propose these pieces of legislation. They say, ‘Oh, there’s nothing to see here.’ A lot of people say, ‘Nothing to see’ when we’re saying, ‘There is something to see.’ And then a couple of years later, what do we have? We have an illegal immigrant with police powers against Illinois citizens,” Niemerg said.
Niemberg said federal officials released Bojovic on bond pending trial and that the case was “not done.”
Last August, Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1953 to require full employment history checks for police officers, after a former sheriff’s deputy with a checkered history was convicted of murdering Sonya Massey in Springfield last year.
State Rep. David Friess, R-Red Bud, said lawmakers who supported SB 1953 should be outraged by Bojovic’s case.
“He broke the law, federal law. He lost his job due to immigration paperwork issues. He lied on his polygraph. He has committed a federal crime every moment he carries a gun on U.S. soil. And yet, where are the activists?” Friess asked.
When asked by The Center Square Monday, a Hanover Park Police Department spokesperson said the department did not have any comment on the latest Freedom Caucus revelations.
According to Hanover Park Police Department records, Bojovic was eligible to receive a starting salary of $78,955.70 last January.
Additional records indicate his 2025 earnings cost taxpayers $205,707, including $9,276 for FICA/Medicare taxes.
Greg Bishop and Catrina Barker contributed to this story.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.