Campus Police Chief Placed on Leave Amid Anti-Israel Protest Complaints

The campus police chief at Arizona State University has been placed on paid administrative leave pending a review of complaints filed against him related to his actions during anti-Israel protests on April 26-27. Assistant Chief John Thompson has been named acting chief.

The campus police chief at Arizona State University has been placed on paid administrative leave amid complaints about his alleged actions during anti-Israel protests.

Michael Thompson was put on leave as university officials review complaints filed against him stemming from April 26 and 27, the school told Fox News Digital in a statement.

"ASU Police Chief Michael Thompson has been placed on paid administrative leave, per university policy, pending a review of complaints filed related to his actions on April 26-27, 2024. Assistant Chief John Thompson has been named Acting Chief," the statement said.

The ASU Office of General Counsel is directing a review of actions surrounding the establishment and removal of an encampment on the Alumni Lawn. Upon completion of the review, ASU will provide an update on its findings.

The nature of the complaints was not disclosed.

Nearly 70 people were arrested between the evening of April and the early morning hours of the next day as anti-Israel protests raged on ASU's Tempe campus.

A list of demands from protesters promoting the demonstration on social media included the university ending all research exchanges and partnerships with Israel, abolishing ASU Police and the Tempe Police Department, and a call for the university's president, Michael Crow, to resign immediately, FOX Phoenix reported.

At a May 2 news conference, the protesters said the arrests were an example of police overreach.

The complaints against Thompson come amid a wave of anti-Israel protests on college campuses across the country. In recent weeks, students at schools like USC, Cornell, and George Washington have criticized faculty and administrators for their role in the protests.

Some Jewish students have said they feel unsafe on campus as a result of the protests. A recent survey by the Anti-Defamation League found that 86% of Jewish college students have experienced anti-Semitism on campus.

The protests have also raised concerns about academic freedom. Some professors have said they feel pressure to avoid discussing Israel in class for fear of being targeted by protesters.

The American Civil Liberties Union has condemned the anti-Israel protests, saying they are "often accompanied by anti-Semitic rhetoric and threats of violence." The ACLU has called on universities to protect the rights of Jewish students and faculty.

The protests have also been condemned by the Jewish Federation of North America, which represents 150 Jewish communities in North America. The federation has called on universities to "take immediate action to address anti-Semitism on their campuses."

In a statement, the university said it is "committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all students, faculty, and staff." The university said it will "continue to investigate the incidents that occurred during the protests and will take appropriate action."