New Haven police chief Karl Jacobson retires amid theft allegations

Independent.co reported that New Haven’s police chief, Karl Jacobson, abruptly retired after Mayor Justin Elicker said on Monday that Jacobson admitted taking money from a department account. Elicker said the chief acknowledged taking funds from a city account that compensates confidential informants for helping police solve crimes when three deputies confronted him Monday morning over financial irregularities.

The mayor called the allegations “shocking" and a “betrayal of public trust,” and said “No one is above the law.” Jacobson submitted paperwork to retire effective Monday when the mayor said he had been set to be placed on administrative leave. Jacobson had served as police chief for more than three years after taking office in July 2022, weeks after a Black man was paralyzed in the back of a police van.

Five officers were arrested in connection with the mistreatment of Richard “Randy” Cox, who suffered a neck injury and was left paralyzed from the chest down; Jacobson recommended firing four of the officers, and police commissioners terminated them while a fifth retired and one fired officer later won his job back on appeal.

Key Topics

Politics, Karl Jacobson, Justin Elicker, David Zannelli, Richard Cox, New Haven