New Haven Police Chief Accused of Embezzlement and Illegal Online Betting

Karl R. Jacobson, the former New Haven Police Chief, has been charged with stealing a total of $85,500 from city funds while placing bets of about $4.5 million online. The majority of the embezzled money came from a fund intended for confidential informants in drug cases. The accusations surfaced in January, leading to Jacobson's resignation. Investigators revealed that his online betting activities spanned from January 2025 to January 2026, resulting in a net loss of approximately $214,365.