Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca Retires

At LAT, "Baca lost confidence of top aides ahead of decision":

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca had something on his mind Friday and needed some advice. He summoned a top aide to his office and let him in on a secret: Baca was thinking about stepping down.

The sheriff's leadership was under attack after a string of scandals. He faced the prospect of a nasty reelection bid. But most of all, Baca said, he wondered whether his departure would help the rank-and-file move beyond the controversies of the last few years.

The aide, who got his start as Baca's driver and owed the sheriff for his rise, did not try to dissuade his boss from retiring.

Rather, he told him it was time to move on.

"I told the sheriff I was getting feedback from deputies on the front line that there's a lot of negativity, and they felt like it was impacting their ability to do their work," Assistant Sheriff Jim Hellmold said. "It was a good decision for him to step down."
Baca continued to mull over what to do over the weekend.

By Monday, he had made up his mind. The sheriff pulled his top assistants out of their offices one by one and told them.
He was done.

He called his campaign consultant and relayed the same message. That evening, Baca broke the news to the county Board Supervisors.

Baca made it official Tuesday morning in an emotional, and at times nostalgic, news conference in which he talked of his 48 years in the Sheriff's Department.

"I don't see myself as part of the future," said Baca, 71. "I see myself as part of the past."

Also, "Sheriff Baca's resignation leaves much up in the air for department."