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Committee advances David Zanelli’s nomination as New Haven police chief after widespread public support
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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 told alderpersons he plans walking and bicycle beats, expanded youth interventions and more aggressive recruitment to restore staffing levels.
Committee members questioned Zanelli about crime trends, staffing, accountability and officer wellness. He cited recent clearance rates and low homicide counts: "We've had 0 homicides for 2026," he said, and noted seven nonfatal shootings, six of which had led to arrests. On staffing he said the department was “about 351 today out of 414” authorized positions and expects another academy class in October. On accountability he told the committee that internal affairs and body-worn cameras guide objective investigations and said he supports reestablishing an inspections unit.
Public testimony ran for more than an hour and included union leaders, nonprofit directors, school staff and residents who credited Zanelli with community engagement, collaboration on youth programs and steady leadership during a turbulent period for the department. Florencia Ocado, president of the New Haven Police Union, told the committee, “Acting Chief Zanelli showed what real leadership looks like,” and Ann Marie Rivera, chair of the civilian review board, said Zanelli “has already made huge changes by working collaboratively with the civilian review board to ensure the community feels heard.”
Not all public comment was supportive. Tyrone Grant accused current and past department leaders of misconduct in a personal account and asked the committee to terminate Zanelli; the allegation was not substantiated in the meeting record and the chair ended the speaker’s time when it expired.
Committee members repeatedly raised community policing, data-driven deployment and officer wellness as priorities. Zanelli described an in-house clinician available to officers and a peer support team, and he emphasized accessibility: “I’m accessible and visible, and I’m willing to listen to anybody anytime,” he said.
A motion to approve Zanelli’s appointment was moved and seconded in committee; members voted aloud in favor when the chair called the question. The committee’s favorable recommendation now goes to the full board for a final confirmation vote.
