New Haven’s police chief is retiring suddenly after being accused of stealing money from department accounts, Mayor Justin Erick announced Monday.
The Democrat said Chief Carl Jacobson admitted he took money from a city fund that compensates confidential informants who help police solve crimes.
He said the chief admitted to using the funds for personal use when three of his deputies confronted him Monday morning about the financial irregularities.
Eric called the accusations “shocking” and a “betrayal of the public trust.”
“No one is above the law,” he told an evening news conference at the police station. “We trust law enforcement to uphold the law, not break it.”
Jacobson did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Monday. He served for more than three years as police chief in one of Connecticut’s largest cities, home to Yale University.
The mayor said he was prepared to meet with Jacobson and place him on administrative leave, but Jacobson instead submitted retirement documents, which took effect Monday.
Eric said it’s unclear how much and for how long Jacobson took money from the informant’s account, and that no one else appeared to be involved. He said city officials are working with state investigators on the matter.
Eric said he has appointed Assistant Police Chief David Zannelli, one of the officers who confronted Jacobson over funding, as interim chief.
Jacobson Taking office in July 2022just when a black man was Paralyzed in the back seat of a police car It was an incident that shocked the police department and the city.
Five police officers arrested on suspicion of abuse Richard “Randy” CoxIn order to avoid an accident, the police car he was riding in did not wear a seat belt. The police car braked suddenly and hit him against a metal partition, causing injuries to his neck and paralysis from the chest down.
Jacobson recommended firing four officers, and the city’s police chief fired them. A fifth officer retired before being disciplined. A fired police officer has regained his job after appealing.
Jacobson had been with the department for 15 years before being named chief. He previously worked for the East Providence, Rhode Island, Police Department for nine years.