Republican gubernatorial nominee Charlie Baker said Gov. Deval Patrick and his administration “owe the public an explanation” about his decision to oust two top officials of the Sex Offender Registry Board — an abrupt, secrecy-shrouded action at the agency that oversees some of the state’s most dangerous criminals.

“That’s a lack of transparency,” Baker said. “That’s an enterprise that people care about and is an important function people want to see performed every single day. I think it’s important for the administration to make clear to people why they made the change.

“It’s their call,” Baker added. “They get to make the change. But they need to tell people why.”

Democratic candidate Martha Coakley's campaign said in a statement: "Martha knows from experience that SORB is a critical agency that helps protect neighborhoods and communities. She would bring to the Governor's office her years of experience both prosecuting those who have abused women and children and working with victims of these heinous crimes, Martha hopes the administration will be as transparent as possible about the reasons for yesterday's actions."

Patrick is in France today on an extended European trade mission.

Patrick administration officials yesterday placed the agency’s executive director, Jeanne L. Holmes, on administrative leave. Board Chairwoman Saundra Edwards, a veteran prosecutor, was let go. But administration officials have refused to comment on the unexpected shake-up except to say that it is “a personnel matter.”

Patrick’s appointment to replace Edwards is Anne Conners, a licensed social worker and an investigator with the Department of Early Education and Care who led the 2012 probe of John Burbine, a Level 1 sex offender accused of abusing more than a dozen babies and infants at his wife’s illegal day care. Burbine later committed suicide in his jail cell.

Edwards, a former Plymouth County prosecutor who was appointed to head SORB by Patrick in 2007, earned a yearly salary of $119,000. Holmes’ salary was more than $109,000 annually, state records show.

The agency also announced the board’s general counsel Kevin Hayden was named interim executive director. Conners is expected to hire a permanent executive director.