Bernard Kerik, NYPD Commissioner during 9/11, dies at 69; all about him

Kerik led NYPD during 9/11 terror attacks
Bernard B. Kerik, former New York City Police Commissioner, died Thursday, May 29, at the age of 69 following an undisclosed illness. Kerik served as commissioner during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and was widely recognized for his leadership during the crisis. He and then-Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani were among the first officials on the scene, working to coordinate evacuation efforts amid falling debris and collapsing towers.

Appointed commissioner in August 2000 by Giuliani, Kerik served for 16 months during the final phase of Giuliani’s administration. Under his leadership, crime rates continued their decline, morale among officers improved, and relationships with minority communities reportedly saw progress. His appointment followed a rapid rise through the ranks, including roles as a correction commissioner and narcotics investigator.


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Political ties and post-9/11 appointments
Following his NYPD tenure, Kerik joined Giuliani Partners as a security consultant, advising corporate and foreign government clients. He later founded his own firm and worked with international figures such as King Abdullah II of Jordan and the royal family of the United Arab Emirates. After the US invasion of Iraq, former President George W. Bush appointed Kerik as interim interior minister for Iraq’s provisional government, where he helped build the country’s new police force.

In 2004, Bush nominated him to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Kerik, however, withdrew his nomination one week later, citing his employment of an undocumented nanny. The disclosure led to investigations that uncovered further legal violations.

Federal convictions and Presidential pardon
Kerik’s career unraveled following revelations of ethical misconduct and legal violations. In 2006, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanors involving unreported renovations provided by a firm suspected of mob ties. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to multiple felony counts, including tax fraud, false loan application statements, and lying to federal officials. He was sentenced to four years in prison and served three.

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Kerik was stripped of his name from the Manhattan Detention Complex and later received a full presidential pardon from President Donald Trump in 2020. Following the pardon, he joined efforts with Giuliani to dispute the 2020 presidential election results and provided materials to the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack.

Early life, military service, and later years
Born on September 4, 1955, in Newark, New Jersey, Bernard Bailey Kerik was the son of a Ford machinist and an Irish American mother. His maternal background included a troubled history, which he later detailed in his memoir. A high school dropout, he earned his GED while serving in the US Army’s military police and later completed a bachelor's degree in social theory.

Kerik joined the New York Police Department in 1986, eventually receiving commendations and promotions. He also held investigative roles in Saudi Arabia and worked for the Passaic County Sheriff in New Jersey.

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His personal life included three marriages and four children. In addition to a memoir, he authored books on criminal justice and a crime novel. In later years, he hosted a radio show and remained a vocal supporter of the Trump administration.