Former Connecticut Police Chief Arrested Over Alleged $85,000 Theft

The previous police chief in New Haven, Connecticut, was arrested Friday on larceny charges following accusations he stole $85,000 from 2 department accounts.


Karl Jacobson, 56, who abruptly retired from the department in January, turned himself in on an arrest warrant. He was later on launched on a court-set bond of $150,000, a state district attorney said in a press release. Jacobson deals with two counts of larceny associated to defrauding a public community.


"A claims of embezzlement by a cops authorities is a major matter and potentially weakens public confidence in the criminal justice system," Chief State's Attorney Patrick J. Griffin said in a declaration.


Jacobson's attorney, Gregory Cerritelli, stated he might not react to the specific allegations yet however advised the public that "an arrest is not evidence of regret and allegations are not proof."


"This is the beginning of a really long procedure," he said in an emailed statement. "I prompt everyone to keep an open mind and avoid a rush to judgment."


Last month, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, when revealing Jacobson's retirement, said the former chief admitted he took money from a city fund that compensates confidential informants for assisting authorities resolve criminal offenses.


Elicker said the former chief acknowledged taking the funds for personal usage when 3 of his deputies confronted him over the monetary irregularities. According to the arrest warrant, Jacobson told the deputies he was investing excessive money on sports betting apps, was looking for assistance for a betting addiction and planned to change the money.


During the taped conversation, Jacobson asked forgiveness and asked the deputies "for an opportunity to save myself" so he might avoid going to jail and losing his pension, according to the warrant.


Investigators figured out that Jacobson wagered more than $4.