Syracuse Police Chief Steve Thompson resigned Monday morning after being arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated Sunday night.

Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll appointed First Deputy Chief Gary Miguel as new police chief, and named Deputy Chief Michael Heenan as first deputy chief, said Sgt. Tom Connellan.

‘We’re still trying to take it in,’ Connellan said.

Thompson’s resignation came less than a day after state police arrested him on a charge of driving while intoxicated after Thompson’s car grazed a bicyclist. Thompson was arraigned Sunday night in Geddes and later released. He is due to appear in court again on April 4.

An overnight arraignment in the towns and villages is normal procedure, since they do not have the facilities to hold people until the next day, Connellan said.

Thompson pulled over and waited for police after the accident, which occurred on West Genesee Street, Connellan said. Thompson refused to take a breathalyzer test and had his driver’s license suspended.

Thompson had a meeting with the mayor and resigned, said Connellan, who could not confirm whether the resignation was Thompson’s or Driscoll’s idea.

The bicyclist John W. Sears, 54, of Minoa, injured his thumb, but was not taken to the hospital. Sears could not be reached for comment. His mother, Katherine Sears, said she heard about the accident and had ‘an inkling’ it was her son, as she knew he was a bicyclist.

‘My heart goes out to the police chief,’ Katherine Sears said. ‘It’s an accident. It’s unfortunate. We all make mistakes. I feel sorry for him because he’s going to suffer.’

She is thankful her son was not hurt, but said she would still feel the same way, even if her son had been seriously injured.

‘You don’t hate,’ she said. ‘He won’t have a happy day in his life without a job.’

Department of Public Safety officials said they did not believe Thompson’s resignation would impact their daily functions. Public Safety Capt. Drew Buske said he is friends with Thompson and has known him for over 30 years.

Buske and Thompson trained together to become Syracuse police officers in the 1960s, Buske said. Thompson was the only member of the Syracuse police force to ascend the ranks from trainee to police chief, Buske said.

‘I don’t know if there’ll ever be another officer who achieves that position from where he started,’ Buske said.

ASST. NEWS EDITOR EDDIE BEEBY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT

Published on March 28, 2005 at 12:00 pm