1 week ago
35
Rudy Giuliani, who served arsenic politician of New York City from 1994 to 2001, mourned the decease of erstwhile New York City Police Department Commissioner Bernard "Bernie" Kerik connected Thursday, describing the grief of losing his "best friend" and a "true patriot" arsenic "inexpressible."
Kerik died astatine 69 years aged "after a backstage conflict with illness," according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
Kerik and Giuliani were salient figures during and aft the Sept. 11, 2001, violent attacks successful New York City owed to their enactment roles successful the city, and they rapidly became adjacent friends.
"On September 11th, Bernie Kerik and I saved each other's lives. If we weren't already friends, that bound america unneurotic forever. He was my champion friend, a existent Patriot, and 1 of the bravest men I've ever known," Giuliani wrote successful a statement.
BERNARD KERIK, FORMER NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSIONER AND 9/11 FIGURE, DIES AT 69
Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (right) mourned the decease of Bernie Kerik, erstwhile NYPD commissioner and his champion friend, connected Thursday successful a agelong connection describing his grief arsenic "inexpressible." (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Giuliani said Kerik was astatine his broadside "within 20 minutes of the attack" connected 9/11 and "never left."
The archetypal illness trapped some of them successful a gathering for what Giuliani thinks was 20 to 30 minutes, but they were capable to flight safely with "substantial further assistance" and "extraordinary bravery" – an cognition that Giuliani said "permeated the way" for betterment implicit the adjacent 4 months.
"Bernie's enactment helped usher the radical of a precise frightened metropolis to gully from their inherent idiosyncratic spot arsenic Americans and children of God," Giuliani said connected Thursday.
He besides praised Kerik's career successful instrumentality enforcement, specifically pointing retired his relation arsenic Commissioner of Rikers Island, wherever helium was capable to trim unit successful the situation by 90%, and his relation arsenic NYPD commissioner, wherever helium reduced transgression successful the city.
"He was driven by an unwavering emotion of this state and a committedness to serving others. He was 1 of the astir decorated New York City constabulary officers of his time," helium said.
New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (center) is flanked by New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik (right) and the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management Director Richard Scheirer (left), earlier dedicating a nationalist viewing level overlooking the tract of the World Trade Center attacks successful New York City connected Dec. 29, 2001. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
FORMER NYPD COMMISSIONER CALLS ON POLITICAL LEADERS TO 'GET OUT THERE' AND 'DEESCALATE' VIOLENCE
Kerik's 35-year vocation has been recognized with much than 100 awards for meritorious and heroic service, including a statesmanlike commendation for heroism by President Ronald Reagan and two Distinguished Service Awards from the Department of Homeland Security.
He was considered for the relation of Homeland Security main successful 2004, but lied to the White House during vetting, which yet led to him pleading blameworthy to 8 felonies, including taxation fraud, successful 2009. He spent astir 3 years successful prison, past moved to location confinement and, later, supervised release.
President Donald Trump pardoned him of the convictions successful 2020.
Kerik is survived by his wife, 2 daughters and 1 son, who is besides a "brave and accomplished" constabulary officer, Giuliani said. (Mireya Acierto/Getty Images)
Kerik worked with Giuliani again to analyse claims of predetermination fraud pursuing the 2020 statesmanlike election.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Giuliani expressed his condolences to Kerik's wife, his 2 daughters and his lad – who is besides a constabulary serviceman – and said helium believes each of Kerik's friends and admirers are "much amended for knowing him."
Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.
English (US) ·