Expressing “regret” and “remorse” after a “difficult year” at a “struggling” agency, Florida Corrections Secretary Ken Tucker has posted a farewell to his employees.

"I wish I could have stretched the numbers from being the sixth secretary in seven years, and hopefully whoever replaces me will be someone with a longer tenure in this position that can lead you to be the agency that I think all of you and I know that you can be," Tucker said.

Tucker is stepping down at the end of the year as part of the state’s Deferred Retirement Option Program.  He has been openly seeking another job.

In a YouTube video he told employees that he appreciated their work during a time when legislators fought with correctional officers' unions over health care benefits and plans to privatize a number of South Florida facilities.

“As you are all aware, it has been a difficult year,” said Tucker who had been commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and has headed Corrections for 14 months.

“I have a regret and that regret is that I only had a short time here with the agency.  I truly do have feelings of remorse in leaving.”

No replacement has been named for Tucker, who replaced Ed Buss in August 2011.

Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.