Former New Haven Police Chief Charged with Embezzling $85K from City Funds

Karl Jacobson turned himself in on an active arrest warrant after confessing to taking money from a fund used to pay confidential informants.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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New Haven's former police chief Karl Jacobson has been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community. Jacobson is accused of embezzling $85,500 from two city funds, including $81,500 from the New Haven Police Department Narcotic Enforcement Program Fund and $4,000 from the New Haven Police Activity League (PAL) Fund.

Why it matters

The alleged embezzlement by a former police chief is a serious matter that could undermine public trust in the criminal justice system. The situation highlights the importance of strong financial controls and oversight within police departments to prevent misuse of public funds.

The details

According to authorities, Jacobson confessed to taking $10,000 from the fund used to pay confidential informants, but the investigation revealed he had actually embezzled $81,500 from that fund and an additional $4,000 from the PAL fund. Bank records showed checks associated with the funds were deposited into Jacobson's personal checking account.

  • Jacobson abruptly retired in early January 2026 after his assistant police chiefs confronted him about missing money.
  • The alleged embezzlement occurred between January 1, 2024 and January 5, 2026.

The players

Karl Jacobson

The former police chief of New Haven, Connecticut who is accused of embezzling $85,500 from two city funds.

Justin Elicker

The mayor of New Haven who called the situation "shocking" and said Jacobson had "severe issues" with gambling.

Christian Watson

The State's Attorney for the New Britain Judicial District who announced the charges against Jacobson.

Gregory Cerritelli

The attorney representing Jacobson, who said an arrest is not evidence of guilt and urged an open mind.

David Zannelli

The acting police chief of New Haven who announced the hiring of a police research forum to develop a new confidential informant policy.

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What they’re saying

“I have yet to receive any discovery from the state so I cannot respond to the specific allegations, but I will remind everyone that an arrest is not evidence of guilt and allegations are not proof. This is the beginning of a very long process. I urge everyone to keep an open mind and avoid a rush to judgment.”

— Gregory Cerritelli, Attorney for Karl Jacobson

“An allegation of embezzlement by a police official is a serious matter and potentially undermines public confidence in the criminal justice system.”

— Chief State's Attorney Griffin

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow Jacobson to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of strong financial controls and oversight within police departments to prevent misuse of public funds, which can severely undermine public trust in law enforcement.