David Zannelli

Assistant Chief, Patrol Operations Division
New Haven Department of Police Service

Assistant Chief David Zannelli joined the Middletown, RI Police Department in 2006 where he first started his career as a police officer. He has been a dedicated and loyal law enforcement professional throughout his time serving as a sworn officer. His ongoing efforts to collaborate with community partners and other law enforcement agencies have proven to be successful at reducing violent crime and improving public confidence and legitimacy in policing. As a patrol officer, he was featured as “Cop of the Week” in the New Haven Independent. He served in the NHPD’s Street Interdiction Unit (SIU) focused on narcotic and quality of life enforcement throughout the City of New Haven. As a federal task force officer assigned to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), he investigated and arrested criminal firearm traffickers. He also served as a team leader in a Title Three federal wiretap investigation called “Operation Bloodline” which resulted in over 105 federal indictments into one of New Haven’s most violent groups. Chief Zannelli was able to help solve several open homicide cases by using evidence seized from the federal investigation in combination with his own personal knowledge of the New Haven community.

As a supervisor in the NHPD Detective Bureau, Chief Zannelli oversaw homicide, non-fatal shootings and sexual assault investigations involving minors. He and his team were able to help bring closure to grieving and traumatized families and provide victims and their loved ones with a multitude of support services. While serving as the District Manager of the Fair Haven neighborhood, Chief Zannelli earned a reputation for the community-based crime strategies he implemented which resulted in a decrease of violent crime in the area. He received several awards from the Fair Haven community for his leadership and dedication and was publicly honored for preventing a suicidal person from jumping off the Ferry Street bridge. Chief Zannelli’s leadership style and strong community bonds were also highlighted when he and his officers were asked to star in a local New Haven documentary film titled “Shift Change.”

Chief Zannelli’s commitment to police legitimacy and procedural justice were also exemplified when he served as the Officer in Charge of the Professional Standards and Training Division. He and his team were able to successfully increase the diversity of police recruit classes and work effectively with the newly recreated civilian review board to increase public transparency. Chief Zannelli supervised hundreds of police misconduct investigations as the Commander of Internal Affairs, one of which resulted in the first police officer decertification in the State of CT under the 2020 police accountability act. In addition, he wrote the NHPD’s updated use of force policy which emphasizes the use of de-escalation techniques. He is also responsible for implementing several de-escalation style training programs department wide, including “KINGIAN” non-violence training and ICAT, as well as sensitivity and tolerance training which includes a tour of the African American history museum in Stratford, CT. Lastly, Chief Zannelli developed and hosted a new Police Clergy training academy to increase bonds of trust and understanding between officers and the community faith leaders.

He was promoted to Assistant Chief of Police on July, 2022 and currently oversees the Patrol and Training Divisions of the New Haven Police Department. During his time as Assistant Chief, he has received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement award and has been nominated to receive the City of New Haven Board of Alders Black and Hispanic Caucus “Local Heros” award.