MAYOR ELICKER NOMINATES DAVID ZANNELLI TO SERVE AS THE NEXT CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE NEW HAVEN POLICE DEPARTMENT

Zannelli currently serves as Acting Police Chief and is an 18-year veteran of the New Haven Police Department.

[NEW HAVEN, CT] - Today, Mayor Justin Elicker named David Zannelli as his nominee to serve as the next permanent Chief of Police of the New Haven Police Department (NHPD). (The livestream of the press conference can be viewed here.)

Mayor Elicker appointed Zannelli as acting police chief in January, and his nomination to serve as the permanent chief of police is subject to confirmation by the New Haven Board of Alders.

"David Zannelli has dedicated his life to keeping New Haveners safe and steadily risen through the ranks to earn the respect and admiration of his fellow officers and the community. As assistant chief and acting chief, he has stepped up to help lead the police department through a period of great progress in reducing crime and a period of real challenge during an unexpected leadership change. I'm confident that David Zannelli will lead the New Haven Police Department with professionalism, integrity and fairness in the pursuit of safety and justice for our residents," said Mayor Justin Elicker. "Every day, the men and women of the New Haven Police Department are doing outstanding work to keep us safe, and I am proud to nominate David Zannelli to lead the department and serve as the next permanent Chief of Police for New Haven."

David Zannelli first started his career in law enforcement in 2006 when he joined the police department in Middletown, Rhode Island and transferred to the New Haven Police Department in 2008. Upon graduating from the New Haven Police Academy, he was first assigned as a patrol officer in the Dwight and West River neighborhoods and was subsequently selected to serve in several specialized units, including the Street Interdiction Unit and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) task force.

Over the course of his career, Zannelli has progressed through the ranks of the New Haven Police Department: Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Assistant Chief. Correspondingly, Zannelli's leadership responsibilities steadily increased over time including overseeing the Major Crimes/Sexual Assault Unit as Sergeant, the Homicide Unit as Sergeant, the District Manager of Fair Haven, the Internal Affairs Unit as Lieutenant, the Professional Standards and Training Division as Captain, and more recently the Patrol Operations Division and Investigative Services Division as Assistant Chief of Police. In January 2026, Zannelli was named Acting Police Chief by Mayor Elicker, following the departure of former Police Chief Karl Jacobson.

"As an eighteen-year veteran of the New Haven Police Department, I'm incredibly honored to be nominated by Mayor Elicker to serve as the next chief of police. Public safety is a sacred trust between police officers and the public, and the men and women of the New Haven Police Department work every day to uphold that trust and keep our residents safe. As police chief, I'm committed to renewing and upholding that trust and partnership with our officers and our residents as we collectively work to build a stronger, safer city," said Acting Chief Zannelli. "I look forward to engaging with the Board of Alders throughout the confirmation process and continuing to work with residents, partner agencies and law enforcement colleagues to prevent and solve crimes and further strengthen public safety and our community policing efforts in the Elm City."

Zannelli has received multiple community awards and recognition for his distinguished service, including the New Haven Board of Alders Black and Hispanic Caucus "Local Hero's" award, the Bereavement Care Network "Community Service" award, the Knights of St. Patrick "Police Officer of the Year" award, the Mary Wade "Outstanding Leadership" award, and most recently nominated for the 2026 "Distinguished Alumni Award" from the University of New Haven, among other recognitions. In addition, he has received several awards from the New Haven Police Department for commendable acts of heroism and service, which include the "David Williams Life Saving Award", two "Meritorious Service Awards", two "Certificates of Commendation", one "Letter of Recognition," and two "Unit Citations."

Zannelli earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of New Haven, a Master's Certificate in Criminal Justice from the University of Virginia, and a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Salve Regina University. Zannelli is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Police Executive Research Forum. He is also POST certified police instructor and currently an adjunct professor at the University of New Haven.

The City of New Haven and New Haven Police Department have made steady progress in reducing crime in the Elm City. In 2025, overall crime was down 23 percent, violent crime was down 39 percent, and property crime was down 22 percent compared to 2024. In 2025, gun violence also reached its lowest recorded level in New Haven than at any point over the last decade. While much work remains, this reduction was achieved through the city's multi-progged approach to gun violence, which employs a community policing approach, state-of-the-art technology, violence prevention and interruption programs and partnerships, and community resources and services like Elm City C.O.M.P.A.S.S.

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Press Contacts:

• Lenny Speiller (City of New Haven) | 203-725-4249 ; [email protected]
• Officer Christian Bruckhart (NHPD) | 475-434-7808 ; [email protected]