Former Baroda-Lake Township Police Chief Shawn Martin has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor embezzlement and agreed to immediately repay more than $170,000 to the township following an investigation into alleged financial misconduct during his time as chief.
The Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office announced that on Friday, Martin entered the plea as part of a case involving allegations of unauthorized overtime payouts, inflated compensation claims, payments received while on vacation or out of state, and personal purchases made using department credit cards.
Investigators say the misconduct occurred between 2019 and 2025. The investigation was conducted by the Michigan State Police along with a forensic accountant hired by Baroda-Lake Township.
According to prosecutors, Martin was originally charged in 2025 with multiple counts of embezzlement tied to the various allegations. As part of Friday’s plea agreement, Martin agreed to immediately pay full restitution totaling $170,346.10 to Baroda-Lake Township.
The prosecutor’s office said township officials worked closely with investigators and prosecutors to uncover the alleged misconduct and recover taxpayer funds. In a statement, officials said no one is above the law, including those sworn to enforce it, and described Martin’s actions as a serious breach of public trust.
“No one is above the law, including those sworn to enforce it. Martin’s conduct represents a serious breach of the public trust placed in him as a police chief. Today’s guilty plea and restitution award reflect a continued commitment to holding public officials accountable when they misuse taxpayer funds, as well as making victims of crime whole again,” read a statement from the prosecutor’s office.
Prosecutors also said the guilty plea and restitution payment represent a step toward restoring trust for township residents and reaffirmed their commitment to protecting public funds and holding public officials accountable.
