Baca backs McCain

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca is endorsing U.S. Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign.

The politically ambitious Baca, who has been the elected L.A. sheriff for about a decade, "commands the largest sheriff's department in the world, supervising more than 17,00 sworn and civilian personnel," McCain's campaign said this morning.

"I am proud to support John McCain. He has an impressive record of public service, and his strength on the issues that are critical to keeping us safe sets him apart," said Baca said in a statement released by the campaign. "John McCain is a steady hand who will be able to step into our country's most important leadership role with the experience to be successful."

In March, Baca appeared at a press conference with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to discuss the county's gang problem.

The L.A. Times recently named Baca as one of the 100 most powerful figures in Los Angeles, writing: "His 8,000 deputies protect 2.7 million people and guard America's biggest jail system. Turnover is high, homicides are up and 150,000 inmates have been released early over the last four years amid crowded conditions that a federal judge called 'not consistent with basic human values.' Yet Baca - so quirky that he is known within law enforcement circles as 'Sheriff Moonbeam' - just won a third term with ease.

(Photo: Robert Mora/Getty Images)