Top Cop’s Stunning CORRUPTION Confession

Police officer with patrol car and flashing lights.

A police chief who was supposed to reform law enforcement after a major scandal instead became the criminal, stealing $10,000 from funds meant to pay confidential informants before abruptly retiring when confronted by his own officers.

Story Highlights

New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson admitted stealing $10,000 from confidential informant funds for personal use
Three assistant chiefs discovered irregularities and confronted Jacobson, who immediately retired rather than face suspension
The theft occurred over months with $5,000 monthly withdrawals, escalating to $10,000 per month in late 2025
State criminal investigation launched while city freezes remaining $50,766 in the compromised account

Police Chief’s Shocking Admission Rocks New Haven

Karl Jacobson’s career as New Haven Police Chief ended in disgrace on January 6, 2026, when he admitted to stealing money from a city fund designated for confidential informants. The admission came after three assistant chiefs confronted him about suspicious withdrawals from the sensitive account. Rather than face administrative leave, Jacobson submitted immediate retirement paperwork, stunning city officials who had appointed him to restore integrity after previous police scandals.

Mayor Justin Elicker called the conduct “shocking” and a “betrayal of public trust,” emphasizing that “no one is above the law.” The mayor had planned to place Jacobson on administrative leave that same day but was preempted by the chief’s retirement. Assistant Chief David Zannelli was immediately named acting chief while the city grapples with another leadership crisis in its police department.

Systematic Theft Pattern Emerges from City Audit

A subsequent city audit revealed the scope of Jacobson’s theft, showing he regularly withdrew $5,000 monthly from the confidential informant bank account throughout 2025. The pattern escalated dramatically in November and December 2025, when Jacobson took $10,000 each month through two separate $5,000 withdrawals. The audit findings indicate systematic exploitation of a fund critical to police investigations and crime-fighting operations.

The city has frozen the confidential informant fund, which contains approximately $50,766 remaining after Jacobson’s withdrawals. This action may temporarily hamper ongoing criminal investigations that rely on paid informants, potentially affecting public safety operations across New Haven. The freeze remains in place pending completion of both state criminal and internal city investigations into the theft and oversight failures.

Oversight Failures Expose Systemic Weaknesses

The scandal reveals troubling gaps in financial oversight that may have enabled theft for up to six years. Under department guidelines, the assistant chief of investigations should have controlled the confidential informant fund, but Jacobson allegedly centralized control of the account. Acting Chief Zannelli admitted he did not file required annual reports on the fund, citing ambiguity in general orders and the chief’s control over the account.

The New Britain State’s Attorney’s Office now leads a criminal investigation with state police assistance, while city officials conduct an internal review of policies and procedures. This marks another blow to public trust in New Haven law enforcement, which was already damaged by the 2022 Randy Cox incident where a man was paralyzed in a police van. Ironically, Jacobson had been appointed to restore integrity after that scandal, making his own criminal conduct particularly devastating to community confidence.