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

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


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


"A claims of embezzlement by an authorities authorities is a major matter and possibly weakens public confidence in the criminal justice system," Chief State's Attorney Patrick J. Griffin said in a declaration.


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


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


Last month, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, when revealing Jacobson's retirement, said the former chief confessed he took cash from a city fund that compensates confidential informants for assisting police resolve criminal activities.


Elicker said the previous taking the funds for personal usage when 3 of his deputies confronted him over the monetary irregularities. According to the arrest warrant, Jacobson informed the deputies he was spending excessive money on sports betting apps, was looking for help for a gambling addiction and planned to replace the money.


During the tape-recorded discussion, Jacobson said sorry 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 figured out that Jacobson bet more than $4.4 million on his DraftKings and FanDuel accounts between Jan. 1, 2025, and Jan. 5, 2026. He won more than $4.2 million however lost more than $214,000. Jacobson made $180,000 a year as cops chief.


The mayor called the allegations "stunning" during a Friday press conference and said Jacobson at first confessed taking $10,000 from just one authorities account.


"We didn't understand how deep this went," Elicker said, keeping in mind the case remains under examination.


"It ´ s a very unfortunate day for the city to see a chief, who was precious by numerous individuals, apprehended for a theft of public money and also cash that was planned for kids," Elicker stated. Jacobson is accused of likewise taking cash from the authorities athletic league, which offers a variety of programs for the city's youth.


Jacobson had actually served for 3 years as cops chief in one of Connecticut ´ s biggest cities, which is home to Yale University. He took workplace in July 2022, simply weeks after a Black guy was disabled in the back of an authorities van in an event that roiled the authorities department and the city.


The state prosecutor's office said Friday the city of New Haven first reported the embezzlement allegations on Jan. 5, which prompted an examination by the Connecticut State Police. The probe exposed $81,500 was unaccounted for or misappropriated from the New Haven Police Department Narcotic Enforcement Fund in between Jan. 1, 2024, and Jan. 5, 2026. Money from the fund is utilized to pay personal informants who help in narcotics examinations.


"The accused had access to cash because fund," according to a press release, which stated bank records showed checks connected with the fund were deposited into Jacobson's individual bank account.


Two checks totaling $4,000 were likewise withdrawn from the New Haven Police Activity League Fund between Dec. 23 and Dec. 24, 2025. The prosecutor's office said both were discovered in Jacobson's personal account. Investigators said no one else at the authorities department was associated with the matter.


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