Former Baroda-Lake Township Police Chief pleads guilty to Embezzlement of over $170k
Posted: May 19, 2026 12:04 PM EDT
Baroda-Lake Township Police Department BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- Former Baroda-Lake Township Police Chief Shawn Martin entered a guilty plea on May 15 to Misdemeanor Embezzlement and agreed to immediately pay the full restitution of $170,346.10 to the township.
The financial misconduct stems from Martin's time as chief from 2019 and 2025.
The Berrien County Prosecutor's Office reports investigators identified unauthorized overtime payouts, hour variances, inflated pay, compensation claimed while on vacation or out of state, and personal purchases issued to department credit cards.
Martin was initially charged in 2025 with multiple counts of Embezzlement.
