ALBANY — A week after State Police Supt. Harry Corbitt abruptly quit amid a widening scandal in which the State Police were allegedly used to pressure a Bronx woman not to seek a court order of protection against a top aide to Gov. Paterson, his replacement has also resigned, effective Friday.

First Deputy Supt. Pedro Perez issued a statement a short time ago saying he would retire, telling Paterson in a letter that he had concluded “that continuing in my position as acting superintendent may be an obstacle to progress of the New York State Police, an agency I love.’’

Perez is under investigation by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for having authorized the head of Paterson’s security unit, Major Charles Day, to contact Sherr-una Booker, the woman who accused the now-suspended Paterson aide, former boyfriend David Johnson, of assaulting her.

Deputy Supt. John Melville, the State Police Field Commander, will take over for Perez pending the naming of a new superintendent by Paterson, which is subject to Senate confirmation.