County commission votes to register complaint to remove Lillywhite

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed Tuesday to initiate the process of removing Mark Lillywhite from the office of sheriff.

By a 6-1 vote, commissioners approved a motion made by Commissioner Jared Hoffmaster, who requested a complaint be registered with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, with the intent of having Lillywhite removed from office.

The motion came toward the conclusion of the meeting and after Lillywhite himself appeared before the seven-member panel to provide an update on the sheriff’s department. During his 3-and-1/2-minute presentation, Lillywhite focused on about a half dozen relatively major cases in which the sheriff’s department has been involved since the start of the year.

Lillywhite concluded his report and left the podium. As he proceeded toward exiting the room, board chairman Ken Malone asked if Lillywhite would please stay for questions. Lillywhite stated: “I’m done” and left.

Afterward, Malone said Lillywhite was ordered by commissioners to attend Tuesday’s meeting to provide an update on the sheriff’s department.

Malone said the correspondence to Whitmer will be prepared by the county’s legal representative and likely sent before the end of August.

Commissioners said Lillywhite is an elected official and, as a result, they do not have the power or authority to remove him from office.

Lillywhite, a Flowerfield Township resident, remains on the payroll even though Undersheriff Jason Bingaman has absorbed the duties of sheriff since Lillywhite’s February arrest in Kalamazoo County for driving under the influence.

Lillywhite, whose term expires at the end of 2024, continues to be paid; his current salary is $105,000.