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Committee advances David Zanelli’s nomination as New Haven police chief after widespread public support
Summary
Acting Chief David Zanelli was advanced by the Automatic Affairs Committee on April 27, 2026, following committee questioning and an extended public-comment period in which many community leaders, union representatives and residents urged his confirmation. One public speaker raised an allegation of past misconduct; the committee voted to forward the nomination favorably to the full board.
The Automatic Affairs Committee voted April 27 to move Acting Chief David Zanelli’s nomination for permanent police chief forward to the full board after extensive committee questioning and a lengthy public-comment session that produced mostly endorsements from community groups, school staff and unions.
Zanelli, who the mayor nominated to lead the New Haven Police Department, described his priorities in remarks to the committee, saying his “vision for the PD moving forward as a team in 2026 is to accomplish some of the following objectives, expand the SRO program to improve the middle schools, to engage more city youth prior to high school, to Project SAFE, and that stands for Students and Families Engaged.” He…
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