New Haven – In a public briefing on Tuesday, Mayor Justin Elicker, Police Chief David Zannelli, and Board of Police Commissioners Chair Evelise Ribeiro announced the completion of a comprehensive review of the city’s Confidential Informant (CI) Fund. The 140‑page report, prepared by the independent Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), offers 33 concrete recommendations across 11 categories aimed at restoring public trust and preventing future abuse.
Background and the need for reform
The CI Fund, which finances tips from private citizens and supports undercover narcotics purchases, became the focus of intense scrutiny after former Police Chief Karl Jacobson was arrested for stealing $178,000 to fund a gambling addiction. Jacobson, who had served as an assistant chief since 2019 and became chief in 2022, entered a no‑contest plea to first‑degree larceny. His restitution and sentencing hearings are set for January.
Following the scandal, the department placed the fund on a six‑week hold and instituted a temporary “special order” that introduced monthly audits, secured cash storage with digital access controls and video monitoring, and required monthly replenishments signed off by the city’s chief administrative officer.
PERF’s findings and recommendations
The city paid $87,000 to PERF earlier this year to conduct the audit, interview officers, and benchmark best practices. PERF’s analysis resulted in 33 recommendations, including:
- Implementing regular, independent audits rather than annual reviews.
- Mandating dual‑signature approvals for any disbursement from the fund.
- Establishing a secure, limited‑access vault for cash reserves.
- Creating a transparent reporting system for informant payments.
- Providing annual training for officers on ethical handling of informant resources.
Mayor Elicker emphasized that the temporary special order already incorporates many of these suggestions, noting, “My hope is that people have more trust in the city and the police department because they see that no one is above the law.”
City officials’ response
Chief Zannelli acknowledged past lapses, stating, “Obviously the policy that was in place at the time was improperly followed. Auditing would have caught this if those audits were going on at that time.” He added that the new checks and balances are designed to ensure such misconduct cannot happen again.
The Board of Police Commissioners will review the PERF report in the coming weeks and work with the department to draft permanent general orders that codify the recommended safeguards.
Why this matters to New Haven residents
Confidential informants play a critical role in solving violent crime and drug trafficking, but the integrity of the fund is essential to maintaining community confidence. By tightening oversight, the administration aims to protect both public safety and the rights of citizens who cooperate with law enforcement.
Local leaders framed the reforms as a direct response to the community’s outcry over Jacobson’s betrayal. “We’re taking decisive steps to rebuild trust,” said Mayor Elicker. “When the city demonstrates accountability, families feel safer and more confident in their police department.”
Next steps
The police department has already forwarded the PERF report to the Board of Police Commissioners. The board is expected to hold a series of public hearings before adopting permanent policies. Residents are encouraged to attend the meetings, which will be announced on the city’s website.
For a full view of the press conference, click here.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
