By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing:
• Former New Haven Police Chief Karl R. Jacobson was arrested Feb. 20 in Connecticut on allegations he stole about $85,500 from police department funds.
• Jacobson faces two counts of first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community and was released on a $150,000 bond.
• Investigators allege funds from the Narcotic Enforcement Program Fund and the Police Activity League Fund were deposited into his personal bank account.
• The Connecticut State Police and New Britain Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office led the probe, and no other department members are believed to be involved.
NEW HAVEN, CONN. — Former New Haven Police Chief Karl R. Jacobson was arrested Friday and charged with allegedly stealing approximately $85,500 from city police department funds, authorities announced.
AP
Jacobson, 55, surrendered to Connecticut State Police on an arrest warrant and was released on a court-set bond of $150,000. Prosecutors have charged him with two counts of larceny in the first degree by defrauding a public community in connection with the allegations.
According to the state’s Division of Criminal Justice, an investigation found that $81,500 was unaccounted for or misappropriated from the New Haven Police Department Narcotic Enforcement Program Fund, which is supported by the city’s general fund and used to pay confidential informants in narcotics investigations.
Further review indicated that two checks totaling $4,000 were allegedly taken from the New Haven Police Activity League Fund between Dec. 23 and Dec. 24, 2025, and deposited into Jacobson’s personal checking account. Investigators said no other department members were involved in the misuse of the funds.
The allegations first came to light when the city reported irregularities to the New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office on Jan. 5. The investigation was assigned to avoid conflicts of interest and remains active as the case proceeds through the courts.