Board confirms David Zanelli as New Haven police chief after committee recommendation

The New Haven Board of Alders confirmed David Zanelli as the city’s next chief of police after a committee recommendation and a series of supportive statements from alderpersons.

A committee representative told the board the public safety committee met and voted to waive further consideration and favorably recommended the appointment, citing Zanelli’s two decades of service in the department and steady leadership. "Keith Zaleli brings over 2 decades of experience, beginning as a police officer in New Haven and worked his way up for assistant chief," the presentation said (transcript contains candidate-name variants). The committee recommended approval and urged colleagues to support the appointment.

During the floor discussion multiple members spoke in favor. One alderperson said, "He is so confident in behavior and show that he's capable of doing a job and he exudes that compass to his team and I support him fully and wholeheartedly in his effort to be an artist to support him tonight." Another member praised Zanelli’s community policing focus and said his leadership "brings experience, yes, but also a steady hand and a genuine commitment to this city." The board then approved the appointment by voice vote.

The appointment follows a committee review and public expressions of support from multiple district representatives. The transcript records no formal roll-call tally in the provided segment; the presiding officer called for voice approval and declared the motion approved.