LA Sheriff's Department jails chief retiring

Grant Slater/KPCC

L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca conducts an inspection of Men's Central Jail in Downtown Los Angeles in this photo from December 2011.

The L.A. Sheriff's Department's Chief Dennis Burns announced his retirement today. Burns has been overseeing the department's custody operations while it's been under investigation for allegations of inmate abuse and guard misconduct in the jails.

At nearly 62 yrs old, & 38 yrs of service, #LASD Chief Dennis Burns plans to retire Mar.2012. 2nd career= travel,hobbies,grandfather

— Mike Parker (@mpLASD) January 10, 2012