Sherrif candidate Fred Garcia today announced his retirement from the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, saying it will allow him to speak openly about his internal investigations without fear of retribution from Sheriff Mike Kanalakis.

"The citizens of Monterey County deserve a real campaign for Sheriff based on the issues they are facing, and it has become painfully clear that the only way for them to get that was for me to step down from my position with the Sheriff’s Department, and continue this campaign as a private citizen," Garcia said at a press conference.

Garcia had agreed to sign a waiver to open the files to two investigations stemming from him copying a employee address roster for campaign purposes and sending a letter to the Board of Supervisors criticizing Kanalakis' request to buy a helicopter. But Garcia backed out after Kanalakis wouldn't agree to sign a waiver absolving the sheriff's veteran from future punishment.

Garcia now says he will sign the waiver by Friday.