Bernard Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner widely praised for his leadership during the Sept. 11 attacks, died at age 69. FBI Director Kash Patel said Kerik passed away Thursday, May 29, after a “private battle with illness.”
Kerik’s rise in public life was meteoric. A high school dropout and Army veteran, he began as Rudy Giuliani’s bodyguard during the 1993 mayoral campaign and went on to lead the nation’s largest police force just seven years later.
Kerik joined the NYPD in 1986 and worked his way through the ranks. In 1997, Giuliani appointed him commissioner of New York CIty’s Department of Correction, where he was credited with reducing inmate violence and sick leave abuse. In 2000, he became police commissioner despite not having a college degree, an unusual background for someone in that post.
A defining moment: 9/11
Kerik led the department during the 2001 terrorist attacks and was widely recognized for his response. He and Giuliani rushed to the World Trade Center site as the towers collapsed, helping coordinate evacuations amid falling debris. His leadership drew national praise and international honors, including being named an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.
What led to his downfall?
Kerik’s post-9/11 trajectory included lucrative security consulting work and a brief nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security in 2004. He withdrew amid revelations he had employed an undocumented nanny, prompting investigations into broader misconduct.
In 2009, Kerik pleaded guilty to eight federal charges, including tax fraud and making false statements. The charges stemmed from unreported loans and improper gifts received during his time in city government. He served nearly four years in federal prison.
How did he return to public life?
Kerik was granted a full presidential pardon by President Donald Trump in 2020. In the years following, Kerik became a staunch Trump ally and submitted documents to the House Jan. 6 committee detailing efforts to challenge the 2020 election outcome. He remained a vocal critic of what he called politically motivated investigations into Trump and his associates.
