Warren cop accused of embezzling from youth police explorer program

A Warren police officer is accused of embezzling cash from a Police Explorer program, a gaggle devoted to younger folks keen on regulation enforcement.

Jack Barnes, 29, was charged on Oct. 24 with embezzlement from a nonprofit or charitable group, $200 to $1,000, within the fortieth District Courtroom in St. Clair Shores, in response to a information launch from the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Workplace.

In keeping with an announcement from Warren police, Barnes was one of many discovery submit’s affiliate counselors when the incident started. Barnes has been with the Warren Police Division since December 2023.

Prosecutors mentioned a senior command officer reported a monetary discrepancy in July after the invention submit accomplished a charity occasion. Barnes is accused of embezzling cash from this system across the Fourth of July.

Warren police mentioned Barnes was positioned on administrative go away for the alleged on-duty conduct and the matter was referred to the county sheriff’s workplace for investigation. In keeping with Warren Police Lt. John Gajewski was positioned on unpaid administrative go away as of October 24.

Barnes’ felony protection lawyer, Marc Curtis, advised the Free Press that he had simply acquired the primary info within the case on Oct. 24 and was not conscious of the information and circumstances.

“Each particular person is presumed harmless till confirmed responsible,” Curtis mentioned.

Barnes remained mute and a not responsible plea was entered for him in courtroom. He was launched on a $5,000 private bond after being charged with the five-year felony. The prosecutor’s workplace mentioned the circumstances embody not leaving the state or having contact with the sufferer.

It says a possible trigger convention will happen on November 18.

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Warren Police Chief Eric Hawkins mentioned in his division’s information launch: “Each time an officer fails to satisfy our requirements, it hurts the whole division and the whole neighborhood. However our integrity and professionalism are decided by the way in which we reply. I need the neighborhood to know that we acted rapidly to root out this misconduct, and that the accountability course of is transferring ahead.

“The inappropriate actions of this one officer don’t outline the greater than 200 members of the Warren Police Division who proudly put on the badge and serve the neighborhood with integrity. We’re absolutely dedicated to making sure that the Police Explorer Program continues to thrive and has our full help. We assure the required assets and oversight for the Explorer Program to proceed its very important work for the youth of our neighborhood.”

Prosecutor Peter Lucido mentioned in his launch: “Our authorized system doesn’t bow to titles or badges. In Macomb County, the regulation applies equally to each particular person.”

Contact Christina Corridor: chall@freepress.com. Comply with her on X: @challreporter.

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