New Haven Hires Firm to Develop New Confidential Informant Program After Funds Theft

Mayor and Acting Police Chief announce new measures to restore trust in critical crime-fighting program.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The City of New Haven has hired the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) to help develop a new confidential informant program for the New Haven Police Department, after funds from the previous program were stolen and misused by the former police chief. The city is implementing new accountability measures, increased supervision, and enhanced procedures to ensure responsible oversight of the confidential informant funds going forward.

Why it matters

The confidential informant program is a critical tool for the New Haven Police Department to investigate and solve crimes. However, the theft and misuse of funds by the former police chief has eroded public trust in the program. Rebuilding this program with robust oversight and accountability measures is essential for the NHPD to continue effectively fighting crime in the community.

The details

Mayor Justin Elicker and Acting Police Chief David Zannelli announced the hiring of PERF, an independent police research organization, to help develop the new confidential informant program policy. This comes after former Police Chief Karl Jacobson admitted to stealing funds from the previous CI program for personal use. The new program will include enhanced procedures, increased supervision, and stronger accountability measures to prevent any future misuse of funds.

  • On January 5, former Police Chief Karl Jacobson submitted retirement paperwork after admitting to stealing funds from the confidential informant program.
  • On February 19, 2026, Mayor Elicker and Acting Chief Zannelli announced the hiring of PERF and the implementation of a new temporary special order to restart the confidential informant program.

The players

Justin Elicker

The Mayor of New Haven, Connecticut.

David Zannelli

The Acting Chief of the New Haven Police Department.

Karl Jacobson

The former Police Chief of New Haven who admitted to stealing funds from the confidential informant program.

Police Executive Research Forum (PERF)

An independent and nationally recognized leader in police research and policy that was hired by the City of New Haven to help develop a new confidential informant program.

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What they’re saying

“To say it's a shock is an understatement. It's a shock to me. It's a shock to the command staff. It's a shock to the men and women of the NHPD, and it's a shock to the community. It is a betrayal of the public trust. No one is above the law.”

— Justin Elicker, Mayor (Patch)

“However, as folks know here, some of the funds were stolen and misused by former Police Chief Karl Jacobson.”

— Justin Elicker, Mayor (Patch)

What’s next

The investigation into the theft of funds from the previous confidential informant program by former Police Chief Karl Jacobson is ongoing, led by the Connecticut State Police.

The takeaway

The City of New Haven is taking decisive action to restore trust and accountability in its critical confidential informant program, which is essential for effective crime-fighting. By hiring an independent research firm and implementing new oversight measures, the city is committed to ensuring the responsible management of this program going forward.