Martin was raised in the North Lawndale neighborhood on the city's west side, attending Richard T. Crane Technical High School.

[5] Martin joined the Chicago Police Department in 1955 as a patrolman in the Woodlawn and Burnside neighborhoods on the city's south side.

[5] Martin was appointed superintendent of the Chicago Police Department by mayor Harold Washington on November 18, 1987.

[5] After his term as superintendent, Martin served as the Director of Public Safety for the Chicago Housing Authority from 1992 until 1994.

[5] In 1998, Martin ran as a Republican, challenging Michael F. Sheahan to be the Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois.