By Anne Ryman
The Arizona Republic
The chief of Arizona State University’s police department will step down earlier than planned.
The university originally had intended for John Pickens to stay on as chief until a national search for a new police chief was completed. In June, the university announced Pickens, 64, planned to take on a new role as executive director of University Security Initiatives after 14 years as chief.
This week, a senior university official told department employees that he had asked Assistant Chief Michael Thompson to assume the role of acting chief, effective at the end of today. A national search for a new chief is under way.
Full Story: ASU police Chief John Pickens to step down early