Bernard Kellick, New York City’s fortieth Police Commissioner, grew to become a nationwide hero on 9/11 and simply handed away on the age of 69, had a particular manner about him.
When you first met him, he was protected, confirmed little emotion, and even much less belief. Of course, this got here from a profession on the forefront of nationwide safety and politics, and he excelled within the former and was mercilessly punished within the latter.
In his bestselling e-book from guard to imprisonment, Kerrick mirrored his expertise as a commissioner for the New York City Department of Corrections earlier than his service as a commissioner for the NYPD. Despite this epic rise and fall, the commissioner by no means pleaded for revenge in opposition to his political opponents, and by no means sought. That was Bernard Kelly’s manner.
Bernie Kerrick discusses his e-book, “From Guards to Incarceration,” on April 6, 2015 in New York City. (Laura Cavanaugh/Filmmagic)
Commissioner Kerik labored within the Middle East for a few years, together with consulting on King Jordan’s safety planning and companies. He lives and works within the space, has labored for over a dozen years and has change into an skilled in safety coverage within the Middle East.
During President Trump’s first time period, Commissioner Kellick labored tirelessly with the White House to cross the First Steps Act, which utilized historic reforms that led to the discharge of hundreds of unfairly imprisoned people.
Kerick’s curiosity in jail reform was private and skilled. Growing up in Newark and Patterson, New Jersey, Kerick had private perception into the refined prejudices of metropolis America and low expectations. Given his experiences in city and prisons in New Jersey, his work on passing jail reform was not shocking. This was Bernard Kelly’s manner.
Once you bought to know Bernie Kelik on a person degree, he’d have you ever see the tough and guarded look. What he revealed to a only a few was his deep ardour and curiosity in others, who knew him, but additionally from a way more humble and modest background, together with his household, together with 4 youngsters, his huge pals, and several other highly effective and influential pals (New York City, Mayor Rudolf Giuliani, Mayor Rudolf Giuliani, and many others.).
Bernard Kellick has his palms on the Bible as he was formally sworn in New York City by Mayor Rudy Giuliani as the town’s fortieth Police Commissioner. (Keith Torrie/NY Daily News Archive by way of Getty Images)
New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerrick talks to a police officer at Times Square in New York City in 2001 (Michael Brennan/Getty Image)
As the son of a New York City police officer, I used to be related to Bernie Kelik on a chilly winter day of 2018. His father had simply handed away and Bernie requested for his badge quantity within the NYPD. Just a few days later, after a large winter storm, he appeared at my father’s service ceremony and introduced me with a duplicate NYPD protect of the 9177 that my father proudly put his power into, ten years in the past.
His thoughtfulness and beneficiant compassion had been additionally Bernard Kerik Way.
New York Mayor Rudolf Giuliani (left) and New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kellick handed out medals to family members of officers and fellow officers in the course of the September 11 terrorist assault at Carnegie Hall in New York City on December 4, 2001. (Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
I hope we will get pleasure from with him for years extra, as family and friends have been standing by him for the previous few weeks. Mayor Eric Adams, who had fashioned his personal friendship with Commissioner Kerrick, got here to the hospital to pay his respects.
With that go to in thoughts, I supply my proposal to the mayor in honor of a life that lived with unimaginable dignity and goal. Find the town streets within the Shadow Tower of Freedom.
Few folks have skilled and achieved of their lives than Commissioner Bernard Kerik. Luckily, the glory and compassion of his signature continues to function a mannequin for all of us, as we bear in mind Bernard Kerick Way.
Mark Serrano is the founder and president of Active Strategy and a former member of the Trump Advisory Committee.