Thompson leaves CNN Headline News

Thompson: 'I decided to leave my position as anchor of CNN Headline News after several weeks of careful consideration.'

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Andrea Thompson, a former actress on "NYPD Blue" who left acting for a career in journalism, resigned from "CNN Headline News" on Thursday, the network said.

Before joining "Headline News" as a prime-time anchor, Thompson worked as a general assignment correspondent for KRQE-TV in Albuquerque, New Mexico, covering stories across the state and the region.

"Andrea was part of the launch of 'Headline News' in August of last year and has contributed a great deal of time and effort to the network," said Rolando Santos, executive vice president and general manager of "CNN Headline News." "We're grateful for her hard work and her contributions to 'Headline News.' We wish her the very best."

Sophia Choi and Stephen Frazier will anchor the evening broadcast on an interim basis, the network said.

"I decided to leave my position as anchor of 'CNN Headline News' after several weeks of careful consideration," Thompson said in a statement. "I have enjoyed anchoring at 'Headline News' but have decided that it is time for me to make a change in my daily professional life."

Thompson, who played Detective Jill Kirkendall on the ABC police drama until 1999, joined "Headline News" last year. In Albuquerque, she covered the Wen Ho Lee story from Los Alamos, New Mexico, the destructive wildfires from Pecos, New Mexico, and the arrest of the "Texas seven" fugitives from Colorado Springs, Colorado.