Former New Haven Police Chief Arrested for Alleged Embezzlement
Karl Jacobson, who served as the police chief of New Haven for three years, was arrested on Friday on charges of larceny after accusations that he misappropriated over $85,000 from two police department accounts. The funds were intended to compensate confidential informants and support a youth extracurricular program.
Jacobson, who resigned abruptly from the New Haven Police Department in January, surrendered himself following the issuance of an arrest warrant. He was subsequently released on a $150,000 bond set by the court, according to a statement from a state prosecutor. He faces two counts of larceny related to defrauding a public community.
“An allegation of embezzlement by a police official is a serious matter and potentially undermines public confidence in the criminal justice system,”
said Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin in an official statement.
Jacobson’s attorney, Gregory Cerritelli, declined to comment on the specific charges but emphasized that an arrest does not equate to guilt.
“This is the beginning of a very long process,”
“I urge everyone to keep an open mind and avoid a rush to judgment.”
Details of the Allegations and Investigation
In January, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker announced Jacobson’s retirement and revealed that the former chief admitted to taking money from a city fund designated for compensating confidential informants who assist police in solving crimes. The admission reportedly came after three of Jacobson’s deputies confronted him regarding financial discrepancies.
“The allegations are shocking and represent a betrayal of public trust,”
the mayor stated.
Jacobson had been the police chief in New Haven, a city with a population of approximately 134,000 people, for three years.
The state prosecutor’s office disclosed on Friday that the city of New Haven initially reported the embezzlement allegations on January 5, prompting an investigation by the state police. The inquiry uncovered that $81,500 was either missing or misappropriated from the New Haven Police Department’s narcotic enforcement fund between January 1, 2024, and January 5, 2026. This fund is used to pay confidential informants who assist in narcotics investigations.
The news release stated,
“The defendant had access to money in that fund.”
Bank records indicated that checks linked to the narcotic enforcement fund were deposited into Jacobson’s personal checking account.
Additionally, two checks totaling $4,000 were withdrawn from the New Haven Police Activity League fund between December 23 and 24, 2025. Both checks were also found in Jacobson’s personal account. Investigators confirmed that no other personnel within the police department were involved in the matter.
Background on Karl Jacobson
Jacobson had been employed by the New Haven Police Department for 15 years prior to his appointment as chief. Before joining New Haven, he served for nine years with the East Providence Police Department in Rhode Island.
