Bernard Kerik, the former New York City Police Commissioner, died Thursday at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He was 69. His family and friends confirmed his death. Kerik was known as “America’s Cop” for his leadership after the September 11th terror attacks.

Kerik was a key figure in New York City’s modern policing history. He became the 40th police commissioner in 2000. Then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani appointed him. Kerik served for 16 months. During that time, violent crime dropped by 63%. He earned the nickname “beat cop commissioner” because he was hands-on. He even made five arrests himself while in office.

On September 11, 2001, Kerik was at Giuliani’s side within 20 minutes of the first plane hitting the North Tower. He stayed there all day, leading the NYPD’s emergency response and rescue efforts. His calm leadership during the crisis earned him widespread praise.

Mayor Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain, called Kerik “a great New Yorker and American.” FBI official Kash Patel said Kerik was “a warrior, a patriot, and one of the most courageous public servants this country has ever known.”

Kerik was born on September 4, 1955, in Newark, New Jersey. He joined the U.S. Army before starting with the NYPD in 1986. His law enforcement career lasted over 40 years. He worked in city policing and national security. After leaving the NYPD in 1994, he joined the Department of Corrections and became its commissioner in 1998.

In 2003, President George W. Bush named Kerik to help rebuild the Iraqi police force. The next year, Bush nominated him to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Kerik withdrew after admitting to hiring an undocumented nanny. This led to legal troubles.

Kerik pleaded guilty in 2006 to state ethics violations. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to eight federal charges, including tax fraud. He served four years in federal prison. In 2020, President Donald Trump pardoned him. Trump later used Kerik as a surrogate on crime and national security during the 2024 election cycle.

Despite legal issues, Kerik stayed active in law enforcement. He founded the Kerik Group, a security consultancy. He spoke frequently on national security.

Kerik won many awards. These included the NYPD Medal for Valor, 29 other NYPD medals, and a Presidential Commendation from Ronald Reagan. He was respected for his bravery and loyalty.

Rudy Giuliani called him “one of the bravest men I’ve ever known.” Giuliani said Kerik helped make New York the safest big city in America. Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, called him “a cop’s cop.”

Kerik was also a family man. He is survived by his wife, Hala Matil Kerik, and three children. His son Joe serves on the Newark SWAT team.

Kerik’s life had highs and lows. He showed heroism under pressure but also faced personal struggles. Bruce Teitelbaum, Giuliani’s former chief of staff, said Kerik was “fearless, brave, larger than life.”

Kathy Vigiano, widow of 9/11 hero Detective Joseph Vigiano, said, “In public, Bernie had a tough exterior. Privately, he cherished his family and his cops. He was always there for me and my family.”

New York mourns Bernard Kerik. His story shows the challenges of leadership and the human side of public service.

Kerik once said, “The French have a saying: ‘To serve is to suffer.’ I have suffered, yes. But I have also served.”