Rudy Giuliani, who served as mayor of New York Metropolis from 1994 to 2001, mourned the dying of former New York Metropolis Police Division Commissioner Bernard “Bernie” Kerik on Thursday, describing the grief of shedding his “greatest good friend” and a “true patriot” as “inexpressible.”
Kerik died at 69 years outdated “after a personal battle with sickness,” in response to FBI Director Kash Patel.
Kerik and Giuliani have been outstanding figures throughout and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist assaults in New York City on account of their management roles within the metropolis, and so they shortly turned shut pals.
“On September eleventh, Bernie Kerik and I saved one another’s lives. If we weren’t already pals, that sure us collectively without end. He was my greatest good friend, a real Patriot, and one of many bravest males I’ve ever identified,” Giuliani wrote in a press release.
BERNARD KERIK, FORMER NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSIONER AND 9/11 FIGURE, DIES AT 69
Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (proper) mourned the dying of Bernie Kerik, former NYPD commissioner and his greatest good friend, on Thursday in an extended assertion describing his grief as “inexpressible.” (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Photographs)
Giuliani stated Kerik was at his aspect “inside 20 minutes of the assault” on 9/11 and “by no means left.”
The primary collapse trapped each of them in a constructing for what Giuliani thinks was 20 to half-hour, however they have been capable of escape safely with “substantial further help” and “extraordinary bravery” – an angle that Giuliani stated “permeated the way in which” for restoration over the following 4 months.
“Bernie’s management helped information the individuals of a really frightened metropolis to attract from their inherent particular person energy as Individuals and kids of God,” Giuliani stated on Thursday.
He additionally praised Kerik’s career in law enforcement, particularly mentioning his function as Commissioner of Rikers Island, the place he was capable of scale back violence within the jail by 90%, and his function as NYPD commissioner, the place he lowered crime within the metropolis.
“He was pushed by an unwavering love of this nation and a dedication to serving others. He was probably the most embellished New York Metropolis law enforcement officials of his time,” he stated.
New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (heart) is flanked by New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik (proper) and the Mayor’s Workplace of Emergency Administration Director Richard Scheirer (left), earlier than dedicating a public viewing platform overlooking the location of the World Commerce Middle assaults in New York Metropolis on Dec. 29, 2001. (AP Photograph/Kathy Willens, File)
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Kerik’s 35-year profession has been acknowledged with greater than 100 awards for meritorious and heroic service, together with a presidential commendation for heroism by President Ronald Reagan and two Distinguished Service Awards from the Division of Homeland Safety.
He was thought-about for the function of Homeland Safety chief in 2004, however lied to the White Home throughout vetting, which in the end led to him pleading responsible to eight felonies, together with tax fraud, in 2009. He spent about three years in jail, then moved to dwelling confinement and, later, supervised launch.
President Donald Trump pardoned him of the convictions in 2020.
Kerik is survived by his spouse, two daughters and one son, who can also be a “courageous and completed” police officer, Giuliani stated. (Mireya Acierto/Getty Photographs)
Kerik labored with Giuliani once more to research claims of election fraud following the 2020 presidential election.
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Giuliani expressed his condolences to Kerik’s spouse, his two daughters and his son – who can also be a police officer – and stated he believes all of Kerik’s pals and admirers are “significantly better for realizing him.”
Fox Information Digital’s Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.
