My day was already over when I saw the news that Sheriff Baca was going to retire.

I’ve been covering the upcoming Sheriff election with CBS2/KCAL9 Reporter Dave Bryan and I’d actually met and interviewed the three main players.

Like as recently as a few hours earlier!

At the beginning of my shift on Monday, I’d met Dave Bryan at the Monterey Park Sheriff Headquarters.  We did a one on one interview with Baca (followed by ABC7).

After the interview (in which he gave NO indication that he was even thinking about retirement), we then drove to Long Beach for a chat with Bob Olmstead and then to Gardena for Paul Tanaka.

Did either of them see this coming?  I don’t know.  They sure didn’t say anything in the interviews to give the impression that the three man race was going to become a two man race.

It never even crossed my mind.  I was more interested in maybe grabbing some lunch, but that didn’t work out either.

We had to make it over to LAX for a quick interview with County Supervisor Mark (don’t forget the dash) Ridley-Thomas.

Our story was actually about the formation of an oversight board being formed to keep an eye on the Sheriff’s Department.

As the sun was setting on LAX, I took a quick picture.  How really appropriate it turned out to be, I mean, because who knew it was also going to be setting on Baca’s career as Sheriff.

HOLY SHIT!

Sorry.  I’ve been thinking that since I heard the news.