Bernard Kerik, Former NYPD Commissioner During 9/11, Dies at 69
The NYPD echoed Patel’s tribute in a statement on X, noting that “for nearly twenty years, Kerik served and protected New Yorkers as a member of the NYPD, playing a key role in helping to rebuild the city after 9/11.”
Kerik was later nominated by President George W. Bush to head the Department of Homeland Security in the early years of the United States' War on Terror.
“Bernie Kerik understands the responsibilities that fell on America on September 11th. The determination he felt that morning will guide him every day in his role,” Bush said in 2004.
Kerik’s nomination was short-lived, as he withdrew just days later. It was later revealed that his decision stemmed from employing an undocumented immigrant as a nanny.
In 2009, Kerik pleaded guilty to eight felony charges, including tax fraud, and served three years in federal prison. The case involved allegations that a construction company seeking a city contract had funded renovations on his home. He was granted a full pardon by President Donald Trump in 2020.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy W. Giuliani paid tribute on X, writing: “He was a decorated police officer, Corrections Commissioner, and NYPD Commissioner during the worst terrorist attack on American soil. Bernie led the largest evacuation of a city during that time. His contributions to security have benefited countless communities.”
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