Undersheriff Announces Retirement : Law enforcement: Block’s decision to seek reelection in 1994 prompts Edmonds to step down.

Undersheriff Robert A. Edmonds said he will retire in March after 32 years, saying he told Sheriff Sherman Block a year ago that he would step down if Block announced for reelection in 1994.

After their discussions, the sheriff persuaded the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to repeal a law that would have prevented him from seeking reelection to a fourth term because he would be past 70 when the new term began.

The supervisors decided on Jan. 28, 1992, to set no age limit on the sheriff’s service as long as voters support him. A few months later, Block announced he would run again.

Edmonds said Tuesday he had no objection to that and respects Block’s physical vigor. But he said he does not want to wait through one more term until 1998 to run to succeed the sheriff. He would be 60 by then, he said, and it would be too late to mount a campaign.

Edmonds said he will first take some time “to smell the roses,” but may later seek a law enforcement post somewhere else.

Edmonds, who lives in Cerritos, was appointed undersheriff, the second highest post in the department, by Block on July 1, 1987. Since then, he has directed the fiscal, administrative, training and personnel operations of the department. He was appointed assistant sheriff in 1975.

Department sources said they believe Edmonds was disappointed not to have the opportunity to run for sheriff, but that relations between him and Block are cordial.

“What’s happening to him simply reflects the fact that he was behind a man who has no wish to retire,” one captain said. “I see Block dying in office.”