Arizona State University officials announced that a university alum with extensive campus law enforcement experience will be the next ASU Police Department chief of police effective Sept. 16.

John Thompson, a 19-year veteran of the ASU Police Department, takes the reins of the 158-person strong law enforcement agency after having served as the interim chief of police since May, a press release explained.

He took on the role after former ASU Police Chief Michael Thompson was placed on leave before retiring. 

“John Thompson has demonstrated a profound dedication to ASU’s values and mission,” Executive Vice President, Treasurer and CFO Morgan Olsen.

Olsen continued that Thompson’s track record in innovation, leadership and service to public safety makes him the right choice to lead the university’s police department.

Thompson’s law enforcement career began after serving 10 years in the Marine Corps Reserve while pursuing his college education. After completing his undergraduate degree at ASU, he joined ASU Police in 2005 and graduated from the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy in Phoenix, the release detailed.

He also earned his master's degree in public administration from ASU and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy's 283rd Session. Thompson also teaches at ASU's School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and previously taught at the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy.

“As a member of the Sun Devil community for more than 20 years, first as a student and then a police officer, I am humbled, grateful and proud to now lead the exceptional women and men of the ASU Police Department,” Thompson said in the release.

He added that he’s honored to be appointed to the position and is excited to continue serving the ASU community and nurturing the foundation that the department has established with community members.

Since 2005, Thompson has held a variety of key roles, from field training officer and detective to terrorism liaison officer and honor guard member. For the past two years, Thompson oversaw the department’s operations division, where he has been critical in enhancing its operational effectiveness, according to the release. 

He also assisted in creating and supervising the Special Victim’s Unit, starting the Community Response Unit bike team, growing police services on the Downtown Phoenix campus and much more.

“The dedicated members of the ASU Police Department work diligently every day to ensure a safe, secure and inclusive campus environment and I look forward to continue assisting them successfully accomplish our mission,” Thompson said. 

He also touched on the work the department has been doing in the last few years to better incorporate technology that assists with operations, noting that he hopes to advance further how the department innovates under his guidance.

Organizationally aligned under the Office of the Executive Vice President, Treasurer and CFO, the ASU Police Department is a full-service, fully accredited law enforcement agency that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

The department is directly responsible for policing all four university campuses in the Phoenix area — Tempe, Downtown Phoenix, West Valley and Polytechnic.