Bernard Kerik, NYPD Commissioner During 9/11, Dies at 69
Bernard Kerik, who led New York City’s police during the 9/11 attacks, passed away at the age of 69, following a private illness. His death was announced on May 29.
Kerik rose to national attention in 2001. As police commissioner, he was at the center of New York’s emergency response during the terrorist attacks. Appointed by then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani just a year earlier, he quickly became a trusted public figure. Giuliani shared, “We’ve been together since the beginning. He’s like my brother.”
In 2004, President George W. Bush picked Kerik to lead the Department of Homeland Security. He later withdrew from the nomination after admitting he had hired a housekeeper who was undocumented.
Kerik’s later years were marked by legal trouble. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to tax violations and lying to officials, resulting in a four-year prison sentence. He served time until 2013. President Donald Trump pardoned him in 2020.
His resume also includes writing two books about his life:
- The Lost Son: A Life in Pursuit of Justice
- From Jailer to Jailed: My Journey from Correction and Police Commissioner to Inmate #84888-054
Throughout his life, Kerik was both praised and criticized. He played a central role in a major historical event and also faced serious legal consequences.
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