New Haven Police Chief Embezzled As Online Bets Soared, Investigators Say

New Haven Police Chief Karl R. Jacobson was arrested in New Haven after investigators accused him of embezzling as much as $85,500 from city funds while placing $4.5 million in online bets between 2019 and his resignation in January when the accusations first surfaced. According to an application for an arrest warrant, Jacobson began dipping into the fund meant to pay informants as early as 2019, eventually taking $81,500 from it. In December, he allegedly embezzled two checks totaling $4,000 from the New Haven Police Activity League, a community organization that supports youth programs. The investigation revealed a pattern of financial misconduct that coincided with a dramatic increase in his online gambling activities. The arrest warrant details how Jacobson's gambling expenditures grew exponentially during his tenure as police chief, with investigators noting that his online betting activity reached approximately $4.5 million while his official annual salary was around $150,000. This financial discrepancy raised immediate red flags among investigators who began tracking his financial transactions. The embezzlement from the informant fund was particularly concerning as it potentially compromised police operations by creating financial incentives for informants that could have influenced their testimony or cooperation. Jacobson resigned from his position in January after the initial accusations surfaced, but the investigation continued, leading to his recent arrest. The case has sent shockwaves through the New Haven Police Department and raised questions about oversight mechanisms within the city's government. Authorities have not disclosed whether Jacobson used the embezzled funds specifically for his gambling activities or if there were other expenditures. The investigation is ongoing, and prosecutors are considering additional charges related to the scale and duration of the alleged financial misconduct.