Former Connecticut Police Chief Arrested Over Alleged $85,000 Theft

The previous authorities chief in New Haven, Connecticut, was apprehended Friday on larceny charges following claims he took $85,000 from 2 department accounts.


Karl Jacobson, 56, who abruptly retired from the department in January, turned himself in on an arrest warrant. He was later released on a court-set bond of $150,000, a state prosecutor said in a press release. Jacobson faces two counts of larceny associated to defrauding a public community.


"An accusation of embezzlement by an authorities official is a major matter and possibly weakens public self-confidence in the criminal justice system," Chief State's Attorney Patrick J. Griffin said in a statement.


Jacobson's attorney, Gregory Cerritelli, stated he might not respond to the specific claims yet however reminded the general public that "an arrest is not evidence of regret and allegations are not evidence."


"This is the start of a really long process," he stated in an emailed statement. "I prompt everyone to keep an open mind and prevent a rush to judgment."


Last month, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, when announcing Jacobson's retirement, stated the previous chief admitted he took cash from a city fund that compensates private informants for assisting police fix criminal offenses.


Elicker said the previous chief acknowledged taking the funds for personal usage when 3 of his deputies challenged him over the financial irregularities. According to the arrest warrant, Jacobson told the deputies he was spending too much money on sports betting apps, was looking for help for a betting addiction and meant to replace the cash.


During the taped discussion, Jacobson asked forgiveness and asked the deputies "for an opportunity to conserve myself" so he might avoid going to prison and losing his pension, according to the warrant.


Investigators determined that Jacobson wagered more than $4.4 million on his DraftKings and FanDuel accounts in between Jan. 1, 2025, and Jan. 5, 2026. He won more than $4.2 million but lost more than $214,000. Jacobson earned $180,000 a year as .


The mayor called the allegations "shocking" throughout a Friday news conference and said Jacobson at first confessed taking $10,000 from just one cops account.


"We didn't know how deep this went," Elicker said, noting the case stays under examination.


"It ´ s a really unfortunate day for the city to see a chief, who was precious by numerous individuals, detained for a theft of public cash and likewise cash that was planned for children," Elicker said. Jacobson is implicated of also taking money from the authorities athletic league, which provides a variety of programs for the city's youth.


Jacobson had served for 3 years as authorities chief in one of Connecticut ´ s largest cities, which is home to Yale University. He took office in July 2022, just weeks after a Black male was paralyzed in the back of a paddy wagon in an occurrence that roiled the authorities department and the city.


The state district attorney's workplace stated Friday the city of New Haven initially reported the embezzlement claims on Jan. 5, which prompted an investigation by the Connecticut State Police. The probe revealed $81,500 was unaccounted for or misappropriated from the New Haven Police Department Narcotic Enforcement Fund between Jan. 1, 2024, and Jan. 5, 2026. Money from the fund is used to pay confidential informants who assist in narcotics examinations.


"The accused had access to money in that fund," according to a press release, which said bank records showed checks connected with the fund were transferred into Jacobson's individual checking account.


Two checks amounting to $4,000 were likewise withdrawn from the New Haven Police Activity League Fund between Dec. 23 and Dec. 24, 2025. The district attorney's workplace said both were found in Jacobson's individual account. Investigators stated no one else at the authorities department was included in the matter.


Jacobson had actually been with the department for 15 years before being named chief. He previously served in the East Providence Police Department in Rhode Island for nine years.