New Haven Names Zannelli Police Chief

Zannelli, who helped expose former Chief Jacobson, nominated to lead department permanently as Jacobson's criminal case continues

New Haven Names Zannelli Permanent Police Chief After Jacobson Scandal

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker on March 25, 2026, nominated David Zannelli as permanent police chief, capping a tumultuous three-month period for the department that began with the abrupt resignation and eventual arrest of former Chief Karl Jacobson.

Zannelli has served as acting chief since January 5, when he and two other senior officers confronted Jacobson in his office about missing department funds — and Jacobson resigned on the spot. He rose through the New Haven Police Department ranks from officer to sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and assistant chief before assuming acting chief duties, giving him an unusually complete view of department operations at every level.

"David Zannelli has shown incredible leadership through an extremely difficult period," Mayor Elicker said in announcing the nomination. Zannelli will require confirmation by the Board of Alders to assume the permanent post.

Jacobson Arrested for Stealing $85,500 in Department Funds

Jacobson was arrested in February 2026 and charged with two counts of first-degree larceny for allegedly stealing $85,500 from New Haven Police Department accounts. According to the arrest warrant, the funds came from two sources: $81,500 from the department's Narcotic Enforcement Program, which holds confidential informant payments, and $4,000 from the Police Activity League's accounts.

The warrant also revealed that Jacobson had wagered $4,464,884.26 on sports betting platforms DraftKings and FanDuel between January 1, 2025 and January 5, 2026, losing a net $214,365 during that period. The scope of the gambling activity surfaced during the investigation into the missing funds.

Three Officers Confronted Jacobson in January

The events that led to Jacobson's resignation unfolded on January 5, 2026, when Zannelli and Assistant Chiefs Bertram Ettienne and Manmeet Bhagtana confronted Jacobson in his office after identifying the financial irregularities. Jacobson admitted to taking the money and resigned immediately.

The confrontation — initiated by Zannelli and his fellow assistant chiefs rather than by outside investigators or the mayor's office — has been widely cited as a demonstration of the institutional integrity that Elicker said informed his decision to nominate Zannelli.

Pension Board Blocks Jacobson Disability Claim

On March 26, the New Haven Police and Fire Pension Fund board voted unanimously to reject Jacobson's application for a service-connected disability pension, which would have provided enhanced retirement benefits. The board determined Jacobson did not meet eligibility requirements given the circumstances of his departure.

The rejection does not affect Jacobson's standard age-annuity retirement pension, which he began receiving after his resignation. State pension law does not allow the pension to be revoked based on criminal charges alone; Jacobson is currently receiving approximately $124,332 per year through that benefit. The disability application, if approved, would have significantly increased that amount.

Mayor Elicker said the board acted appropriately given the seriousness of the allegations.

New Haven Chief Moves to Expand School Resource Officers

Since taking over as acting chief, Zannelli has put youth violence prevention at the center of his public safety agenda. In March, he proposed a pilot program to place school resource officers in New Haven middle schools — an expansion of the SRO model that has operated in high schools.

Zannelli cited data showing that five of the seven shootings in New Haven in 2026 involved teenagers, and framed early intervention relationships as a key tool for changing the trajectory. The proposal has drawn both support from officials who see the SRO program as a bridge between youth and law enforcement, and scrutiny from advocates who have raised concerns about police presence in schools.

The Board of Education has been presented with the proposal, and a full implementation plan including staffing, school partnerships, and training protocols is expected to be released in the coming months.

What Comes Next in Jacobson's Case

Jacobson's criminal case is ongoing. His most recent court appearance was on March 19, 2026. Legal proceedings for first-degree larceny charges in Connecticut can result in up to 20 years in prison per count for thefts above $20,000.

Zannelli's nomination is expected to move through the Board of Alders confirmation process without significant opposition, though no hearing date has been publicly announced.

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