Bernard Kerik
Bernard Bailey Kerik (September 4, 1955 – May 29, 2025) was an American law enforcement officer, military veteran, and security consultant who served as the 40th Commissioner of the New York City Police Department from August 2000 to December 2001.[1][2] Appointed by Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Kerik oversaw the NYPD's response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, earning recognition for leadership during the crisis alongside Giuliani at Ground Zero.[3] Following his NYPD tenure, he advised the Iraqi Ministry of Interior on police reconstitution after the 2003 invasion.[4] In December 2004, President George W. Bush nominated him to succeed Tom Ridge as Secretary of Homeland Security, citing his 9/11 experience, but Kerik withdrew a week later amid disclosures of employing an undocumented immigrant nanny and unpaid taxes on apartment renovations.[5][6] Later embroiled in federal investigations tied to his business dealings and Rudy Giuliani's 2008 presidential campaign, Kerik pleaded guilty in 2009 to eight felony counts including tax fraud, falsifying tax returns, and making false statements to the White House and Congress.[7] He was sentenced to four years in prison in 2010, serving three before release in 2013.[8] President Donald Trump granted him a full pardon on February 18, 2020, restoring his rights amid commendations from supporters for his prior service.[7][9] Kerik's career exemplified rapid ascent from patrol officer to national security figure, shadowed by personal and ethical lapses that led to his conviction and subsequent rehabilitation through clemency.[10]
Early life and education
Upbringing and family influences
Bernard Kerik was born on September 4, 1955, in Newark, New Jersey, to Patricia Joann Bailey and Donald Raymond Kerik Sr.[11][10] His mother, who struggled with alcoholism and worked as a prostitute under multiple aliases, abandoned the family when Kerik was approximately four years old, leaving him in the care of relatives and friends.[12] This early instability marked his childhood, as he moved between various households until his father gained custody.[13] Kerik's father, a Newark police officer, provided a stabilizing influence after assuming custody, though details of their relationship remain limited in public records.[14] The absence of his mother profoundly shaped Kerik's worldview, fostering a personal drive rooted in overcoming adversity, as he later reflected in his 2001 memoir The Lost Son, where he detailed his search for her background. Investigations revealed that Patricia Bailey had associated with criminal elements and was likely murdered—possibly bludgeoned to death by a pimp—in Newark, Ohio, around 1964, a revelation that Kerik described as haunting and formative to his resilience.[14][11]Formal education and early influences
Kerik attended Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey, but dropped out in 1974 without earning a diploma, opting instead to enlist in the U.S. Army.[15][16][17] While serving in the Army, stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he obtained his General Educational Development (GED) equivalency diploma.[18][19] In 2002, after advancing in his law enforcement career, Kerik completed a Bachelor of Science degree from Empire State College, a division of the State University of New York, via correspondence coursework without attending in-person classes.[15][11] His early influences included a strong interest in martial arts; as a teenager in Paterson during the early 1970s, Kerik immersed himself in karate training, which he credited with instilling discipline and physical resilience amid a challenging urban environment.[20] This pursuit, combined with exposure to street life and limited formal structure, directed him toward military service as a pathway to stability and authority, where he trained as a military policeman.[17][21] Kerik's self-directed educational efforts later reflected a pragmatic approach to credentialing, prioritizing practical experience in security and policing over traditional academic progression.[15][19]Military service
U.S. Army enlistment and deployments
Kerik enlisted in the United States Army in 1974 at age 18, shortly after dropping out of high school.[22][2] He served for three years until 1977 in the Military Police Corps, earning recognition for his discipline during peacetime assignments.[11][23] His primary overseas posting was in South Korea, where he operated as a military police sentry dog handler, a role involving patrol duties and security at key installations amid ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.[24][2] Stateside, Kerik was assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, performing military police functions including law enforcement support for airborne operations and base security.[25] No combat deployments are recorded in his service history, consistent with the non-wartime context of the mid-1970s U.S. military posture.[24] During this period, Kerik achieved a black belt in karate, enhancing his physical training as part of military police qualifications.[25] His Army experience provided foundational skills in security operations and leadership that later informed his law enforcement career.[26]Decorations and discharge
Kerik enlisted in the United States Army in July 1974 and served for three years, including as a military policeman in South Korea and receiving training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.[2] [27]
He was honorably discharged in July 1977, as stated in his memoir.[28] No specific decorations or awards from his U.S. Army service are documented in public sources.[11]