New Haven Police Chief Steps Down After Admitting Misuse of Informant Funds

New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson retired without notice on Monday after acknowledging that he removed money from an account designated for paying confidential informants, Mayor Justin Elicker said during an evening press conference.

The mayor explained that three deputy chiefs confronted Jacobson on Monday morning about discrepancies in the informant fund. When questioned, Jacobson admitted using the cash for personal purposes. Elicker had intended to place the chief on administrative leave later the same day, but Jacobson instead submitted retirement paperwork effective immediately.

“No one is above the law,” the mayor stated, emphasizing that law-enforcement officials are expected to uphold the statutes they enforce. City officials have notified state authorities and are cooperating with an ongoing investigation to determine how much money was taken and over what period. At this stage, municipal leaders do not believe any other department employees were involved.

Assistant Police Chief David Zannelli, one of the deputies who originally raised concerns, has been appointed interim chief while the city searches for a permanent replacement. Zannelli will assume command of approximately 400 sworn officers in Connecticut’s second-largest city, which also hosts Yale University.

Sequence of Events

City records show that Jacobson appeared at police headquarters on Monday morning for a routine internal meeting. During that session, Zannelli and two other deputy chiefs presented documentation indicating irregular withdrawals from the confidential informant compensation fund. According to the mayor, Jacobson conceded that he had taken the money and could not account for the precise total.

Elicker told reporters he learned of the confession shortly before noon and arranged a private meeting with Jacobson to place him on leave pending an investigation. Before the meeting could occur, Jacobson delivered his immediate retirement notice to the city’s human resources office. The paperwork terminated his 24-year law-enforcement career, which included 15 years in New Haven and nine years in East Providence, Rhode Island.

Scope of Inquiry

The confidential informant fund, financed through authorized budget allocations and seizure proceeds, compensates civilian sources who provide actionable intelligence. New Haven’s municipal charter requires dual oversight of the account, but the day-to-day management rests largely with the chief and a small financial unit. The city has not yet disclosed how the safeguards failed or how the withdrawals went unnoticed until now.

A formal criminal investigation is being led by state authorities. Under Connecticut law, the potential charges could include larceny, embezzlement, and official misconduct, all of which carry possible prison sentences and restitution requirements. Additional administrative audits will examine whether procedural changes are needed to protect restricted funds in the future. A summary of relevant statutes can be found on the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection website (ct.gov).

Career and Recent Challenges

Jacobson assumed the chief’s post in July 2022, a time when the department was under intense public scrutiny. Weeks earlier, Richard “Randy” Cox, a Black man, was paralyzed in a police transport van lacking seat belts after the driver braked abruptly. Five officers were charged in connection with the incident. Jacobson recommended the dismissal of four of them, and the city’s police commission later terminated their employment. The fifth officer retired before disciplinary action could be taken, and one of the fired officers was reinstated on appeal.

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During his tenure, Jacobson also oversaw initiatives aimed at bolstering community trust, including an expansion of body-worn camera usage and revisions to use-of-force policies. Those programs may now face renewed examination as the department addresses the fallout from the theft allegations.

Next Steps for the Department

Interim Chief Zannelli stated that daily operations continue uninterrupted. He plans to meet with command staff and union representatives to brief them on the investigative process and to reaffirm internal financial controls. The Board of Police Commissioners is expected to convene later this month to outline a timeline for selecting a permanent chief.

Mayor Elicker indicated that the city will solicit external candidates in addition to considering internal applicants. The administration has not specified whether Jacobson’s pension or retirement benefits could be affected by the outcome of the criminal inquiry. Such decisions typically depend on the nature of any charges filed and subsequent court findings.

State investigators have begun interviewing personnel in the department’s finance office, and additional subpoenas for bank and city records are anticipated. Officials said they intend to release periodic updates but declined to comment on specific investigative techniques, citing the ongoing nature of the case.

The allegations against Jacobson mark the most serious misconduct claim against a sitting New Haven police chief in decades. While the probe proceeds, city leaders are emphasizing transparency and adherence to established oversight mechanisms to restore public confidence.

Crédito da imagem: Associated Press