Norman Bettison, chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, said he would stand down to allow a full investigation into charges he misled official inquiries into the 1989 football stadium crush at Hillsborough, Sheffield, in which 96 Liverpool fans were killed.
Earlier this month, he announced he would retire in March, but was standing down early to prevent the investigation affecting police activities.
"I do so [retire], not because of any allegations about the past, but because I share the view that this has become a distraction to policing in West Yorkshire now and in the future," Bettison said in a statement.
The most serious alleged that he "was involved in the production and supply of misleading information" for official inquiries into the disaster, it said.
"Retirement or resignation does not prevent criminal prosecution should the investigation identify criminal offences, including misconduct in a public office," the Independent Police Complaints Commission said in a statement.
