He was one of the figures of September 11, 2001. Bernard “Bernie” Kerik, owner of the New York police at the time of the attacks, died Thursday at the age of 69, the boss of FBI announced.
Kash Patelthe director of the FBI, made public the death of Bernard Keric on X, explaining that the latter had died “from a personal battle against the disease”, at the age of 69.
He praised the memory of a “warrior, patriotic and one of the bravest officials that this country has ever known”.
Today, we mourn the loss of Bernard B. Kerik, a warrior, a patriot, and one of the most courageous public servants this country has ever known. Bernie passed away tragically on May 29, 2025, after a private battle with illness.
With over forty years of service in law enforcement…
– Kash Patel (@kash_patel) May 30, 2025
Bernard Kerik was the New York police chief when the terrorists struck The twin towers of the World Trade Center September 11, 2001.
His face, crossed by a black mustache, became familiar for the Americans from all over the country after September 11, because he worked hand in hand with the mayor of New York of the time, Rudy Giulianiin the days and weeks having followed the attacks of the World Trade Center.
Condemned for corruption
Benard Kerik, who has become for the general American public “Bernie”, one of the faces of September 11, had written his autobiography, “the lost son: a life in pursuit of justice”, published in 2001.
In the book, he revealed in particular a difficult childhood alongside a young alcoholic and working mother of sex living in a universe of violence, then a childhood alongside his father, marked by school failure until his discovery of martial arts and the military world.
He fell into disgrace after pleading guilty in 2009 corruption and scam. Bernard Kerik admitted that he had accepted $ 255,000, for the renovation of his apartment, a company in the running for contracts with the government.
By pleading guilty, he avoided a heavier conviction of up to 61 years in prison and was sentenced instead of four years’ imprisonment.
