Embezzlement charges have been dropped against former fire inspector Lt. Patrick Saltmarsh, who will pay the Mattapoisett Firefighter's Association $2,105.76, according to Plymouth County Assistant District Attorney Russ Eonas. Saltmarsh has also tendered his resignation to the town, effective Wednesday, July 23.

Saltmarsh was charged with six counts of embezzlement in February after new association officers discovered irregularities in the small nonprofit organization's bank. Saltmarsh served as treasurer when the transactions were made in 2013.

A joint statement from the town of Mattapoisett and Saltmarsh’s attorney, Philip Beauregard, states that the “charges against Lt. Saltmarsh have been dismissed at this time and the matter has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties.”

In February, Police Chief Mary Lyons said her department looked into the matter and discovered "an unusual credit card payment made to the Department of Revenue" as well as several ATM transactions that seemed unconventional. The withdrawals totaled $1,345.76.

Beauregard said the funds to be repaid include $200 in petty cash that Saltmarsh had on his person at the time he was "escorted from the office" along with $350 that Saltmarsh said was withdrawn when he erroneously used the association's ATM card instead of his own.

The settlement involves no admission of guilt.

"They refused to take it back at the time," said Beauregard.

During negotiations, his client agreed to pay half of an audit of the association's funds, said Beauregard. He added that the audit turned up no wrongdoing.

Two weeks before the embezzlement charges, Saltmarsh was put on paid administrative for an unrelated matter regarding a private complaint that the lieutenant had allegedly not responded to a medical emergency that occurred across the street from the Fire Station.

Following a hearing held before Town Administrator Mike Gagne, there will be no further action on the complaint.

According to Eonas, the embezzlement charges were dropped on Wednesday, July 23. The same day, Saltmarsh resigned from his position at the Fire Department. He was still on paid leave until he resigned.

“Because of these recent events, Lt. Saltmarsh believes he cannot effectively serve as a Lieutenant for the Town under the present circumstances,” said the joint statement.