Connecticut Police Officer in Hot Water Over Stolen Money to Fund Gambling

The story of Karl Jacobson, an ex-cop, bears a striking resemblance to that of a Virginian colleague who also fell foul of the law over gambling issues.

Jacobson held an upstanding position in the New Haven Police Department, serving as its chief, before an investigation into his use of informant money suggested that he had diverted the funds to finance his gambling.

Ex-Police Chief Falls into Bad Habits as Gambling Consumes Him for a Year

He has since resigned and now faces an investigation by the Connecticut State Police’s Eastern District Major Crimes Unit, along with two first-degree felony charges over the alleged theft of tens of thousands of dollars, according to his former subordinates. His police chief’s salary fetched him $180,000 annually.

The former police chief had been gambling heavily on popular sportsbooks, specifically DraftKings and FanDuel. Between January 1, 2025, and January 5, 2026, he wagered a total of $1.34 million with DraftKings, winning $1.29 million.

These numbers were small in comparison to the amount he wagered on FanDuel, where he placed as much as $3.11 million in total bets, ultimately winning $2.95 million. Overall, Jacobson lost $214,365 to gambling.

Jacobson turned himself in to the police on Friday, February 20. The investigation into his alleged wrongdoing began when fellow law enforcement officers reported missing funds within the New Haven PD.

Specifically, New Haven Assistant Police Chiefs David Zannelli, Bertam Ettienne, and Manmeet Bhagtana raised concerns about irregularities involving withdrawals from the New Haven Police Department Narcotic Enforcement Program (NEP), which is used to combat drug activity by paying informants.

Jacobson Wants a Chance to Do Better

Jacobson was eventually confronted by subordinates over the missing money. When pressed, he acknowledged that funds were missing due to his actions and asked his colleagues to keep the matter private so that he might have a chance to repay the money.

At that point, it became known that he had been gambling and struggling with a gambling problem, which he acknowledged to his colleagues.

He appealed to their better nature, urging them to give him a chance to “save himself” by “fixing the books” and repaying everything. Once this was done, he promised to retire.

All told, Jacobson is alleged to have stolen $81,500 from the NEP, along with another $4,000 from the New Haven Police Activity League.