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

The former authorities chief in New Haven, Connecticut, was apprehended Friday on larceny charges following accusations he stole $85,000 from two department accounts.


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


"An accusation of embezzlement by a cops official is a severe matter and possibly undermines public self-confidence in the criminal justice system," Chief State's Attorney Patrick J. Griffin said in a declaration.


Jacobson's legal representative, Gregory Cerritelli, stated he could not react to the particular accusations yet but reminded the public that "an arrest is not proof of regret and allegations are not proof."


"This is the beginning of a really long process," he said 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 announcing Jacobson's retirement, stated the former chief confessed he took money from a city fund that compensates personal informants for helping authorities resolve crimes.


Elicker stated the former chief acknowledged taking the funds for personal use when 3 of his deputies faced him over the financial abnormalities. According to the arrest warrant, Jacobson told the deputies he was spending too much cash on sports wagering apps, was seeking aid for a betting addiction and intended to change the cash.


During the tape-recorded conversation, Jacobson asked forgiveness and asked the deputies "for an opportunity to save myself" so he might avoid going to jail and losing his pension, according to the warrant.


Investigators determined 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 earned $180,000 a year as authorities chief.


The mayor called the accusations "shocking" throughout a Friday press conference and said Jacobson initially confessed taking $10,000 from only one cops account.


"We didn't understand how deep this went," Elicker stated, noting the case stays under investigation.


"It ´ s a very unfortunate day for the city to see a chief, who was cherished by so many individuals, arrested for a theft of public money and likewise money that was intended for kids," Elicker said. Jacobson is accused of also taking money from the authorities athletic league, which offers a variety of programs for the city's youth.


Jacobson had actually served for 3 years as police 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 guy was paralyzed in the back of a police van in an occurrence that roiled the police department and the city.


The state prosecutor's office stated Friday the city of New Haven initially reported the embezzlement accusations on Jan. 5, which triggered an investigation by the Connecticut State Police. The probe revealed $81,500 was unaccounted for or misused 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 private informants who assist in narcotics examinations.


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


Two checks totaling $4,000 were also withdrawn from the New Haven Police Activity League Fund in between Dec. 23 and Dec. 24, 2025. The district attorney's office stated both were found in account. Investigators stated no one else at the police department was included in the matter.


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