NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- A New Haven police detective accused of stealing money from the department is asking for a jury trial to clear his name.

Detective Clarence Willoughby was in court Wednesday to plead not guilty to larceny and forgery charges.

The 24-year veteran of the New Haven Police Department is accused of stealing from a fund used to pay confidential informants.

Willoughby filed for retirement Feb. 6, just before he turned himself in at police headquarters and he has been placed on paid leave.

He also faces departmental charges and Chief Francisco Ortiz Jr. says Willoughby should be fired.

A termination hearing for Willoughby scheduled for Thursday night was canceled in the afternoon after an arbitrator ruled in an unrelated case about a former police official's termination.