In an exclusive interview, embattled State Police superintendent Harry Corbitt discusses why he’s handing in his retirement papers tomorrow – saying the scandal surrounding the Paterson administration is making it impossible to do his job.

In an interview with Capital News 9, NY1’s sister station in Albany, Corbitt says, “There needs to be this public perception that the person serving in that position is trustworthy, forthright, and has the best interest of the citizens of the state of New York in mind. This media firestorm has really destroyed my ability to function in that capacity. And so, it’s important for me to move away from being the main attraction so that the State Police can get on doing the business they do every day serving the citizens."

Corbitt also was critical of the state’s former Deputy Public Safety Director, Denise O'Donnell, who quit her job in protest last week because Governor Paterson reached out to a woman who was allegedly attacked by a high-level Paterson aide.

"Denise O’Donnell said she retired or resigned, excuse me, based on something she read in a newspaper report and she also indicated that she believed that information that I provided was falsely reported. It’s a clear indication to me that the press has been so strong in pushing this agenda or pushing this issue that it became even believable for her," Corbitt said.