New York State Police superintendent Harry Corbitt announced tonight to Capital News 9 that he is retiring effective Wednesday, in light of the recent controversy surrounding Governor David Paterson. Corbitt — who has confirmed that a police official contacted the woman who accused Paterson aide David Johnson of assault last fall — said that “intense media scrutiny” played a role in his decision to step down.
Corbitt’s boss, Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Denise O’Donnell, resigned last week, after saying she felt direct contact between the governor and the accuser was “unacceptable” no matter what the circumstances may have been.
Paterson, who maintained tonight that he does not currently have plans to resign from office, would not comment when asked if he requested that Corbitt step down.
”I think that we’ll move forward now and we will look to see who will be the best person to lead the state police,” Paterson told reporters. ”I think he worked very hard and he was helpful at this period.”
State Police Chief Abruptly Retires [AP via NYT]
