== Racism, favoritism, and discrimination in Hanover, Illinois 61041 == 

 I have spoken with, and personally know, quite a few of the residents of this small town. There seems to be much racism, especially towards people of Hispanic or African-American ethnicity. I myself, of Sicilian ancestry, was called a spic by various persons on my first visits to this town. 
 The town seems to be essential run by "insiders", and it is very obvious that anyone who is considered an "outsider" is not afforded the same rights. The way that the Hanover Police deal with crime reporting is a perfect example. "Insiders", and their friends and family, are almost never prosecuted under the law, while "outsiders" are not only prosecuted, but at times are also negated their right to even file complaints against insiders. 
 Because it is a very small community, everybody knows who is who. The authorities normally hire family members, no matter how deliquent they may be. One case in point is Hanover Ambulance, who hired one of the insiders, a juvenile delinquent, to serve as a EMT. This person has been shown to currently be a drug addict and alcoholic, yet he is responsible for people's lives. 
 His brother, also a drug addict and alcoholic, regularly produces victims for the Ambulance company by preying on those who are smaller and lighter in weight than himself. 
 The Hanover Police Dept is similarly endowed, with convicted drug traffickers and personnel who regularly utilize favoristic tactics when an emergency phone call is received. Outsider victims, calling for help, are frequently arrested while thier attackers, if they are insiders, are not even questioned.  
 More recently, the EMT above, along with his brother and his uncle, attacked and left for dead an outsider whose family has been trying to make a living in this town for 15 years. Although everyone knew who had attacked him, and the police were notified, the police effectively would not question the attackers until the victim himself signed a complaint. The victim was unconscious in a trauma hospital, awaiting emergency surgery to save his life. One of the attackers fled to Wisconsin. The uncle sat confidently on his couch at home, while drinking a beer and boasting of "beating the [victim] even after he was unconscious until his eye popped out [of socket]". Due process was not afforded this victim, who could have easily died if no one would have found him lying unconscious. With no one to sign complaint, the victim would have no justice. The officers now want him to sign complaint for "battery" only, even though this crime would more correctly be attempted murder. Many "outsider" officers have come and gone, none wanting to stand in this kind of unjust environment. 
 Unfortunately, the town authorities seem to want Hanover for themselves, effectively driving out new business and investors with their high property tax rate (which is not uniform, and seems to depend on whether you are related to the Mayor in some way). 
 Downtown Hanover is comprised of approximately one city block, however there are 3 taverns on that block, and most of the authorities frequent those taverns at night, while the Police and Fire Departments are closed. There have been incidents when drunk firefighters came to dowse a small kitchen fire, and reported 25 trucks as being deployed. The town is believed to have one firetruck.