Chief Thompson joined the Arizona State University Police Department in May 2008 after spending 20+ years with the City of Mesa Police Department, in a variety of assignments, including Sergeant (patrol, jail, bike unit, community action, advanced training, school resource officer supervisor, Criminal Law lead instructor), detective, honor guard, and forensic/ composite artist.
Michael has served as Commander at the West campus, as Commander of the Support Services Division at the Tempe campus, and as Assistant Chief of Support Services of the department. Michael is currently the Chief of Police since 2014.
He is a graduate of the PERF SMIP (Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police) Program, AZPOST Leadership in Police Organizations, and has completed numerous law enforcement-related training courses. He is also currently a member of the Board of Directors for Community Bridges Inc. (CBI) and also a voting member of the East Valley Chiefs of Police Association as well as the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police. Chief Thompson is also the southwest regional director for IACLEA (International Association for Campus Law Enforcement Administrators) which covers Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.
In August of 2015, ASUPD and Police Chief Michael Thompson launched a Special Victims Unit. ASU is one of four universities in the nation with an SVU devoted to addressing sexual assault on campus. Detectives assigned to the Special Victims Unit will investigate cases involving physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, and crimes against children.
During his tenure, Chief Thompson has been responsible for bringing ASUPD forward in social justice issues, body-worn cameras for every officer, increasing technology and leveraging it to increase safety across all campuses, and expanding the K-9 program for ASUPD.
Chief Thompson received a Doctorate from ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College in Leadership and Innovation. He has also earned a Master of Administration/Leadership degree from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Education from Northern Arizona University.