ASU Police Chief Announces Resignation

Chief Michael Thompson will retire from the ASU Police Department on Aug. 24.

TEMPE, Ariz. — ASU Police Chief Michael Thompson will be retiring following administrative leave prompted by complaints on his department’s handling of campus protests.

A spokesperson for ASU confirmed that Thompson will retire on Aug. 24 after a decade as police chief. “The university community appreciates his years of dedicated service to ASU and wishes him well,” said the spokesperson.

Thompson faced scrutiny after police cleared encampments and arrested dozens during pro-Palestine demonstrations in late April, which ASU deemed as an “unlawful assembly” violating campus rules.

A Maricopa County judge dismissed the protestor cases without prejudice, leaving room for potential re-filing by prosecutors.

Chief Thompson was later sanctioned by Iran for “flagrant violation of human rights” during the suppression of the pro-Palestine student protests. He is among 11 law-enforcement leaders nationwide to face such sanctions.

No candidate has been announced to replace Thompson as ASU police chief.

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