Bernie Kerik is an excellent choice: bright, articulate, courageous, loyal, and well-respected. Has the experience to work with the nation's police departments and other first responders in what George Tenet calls the most pressing intelligence need: federal sharing of information with state and local authorities. Can be abrasive when impatient with the progress of reforms, as in Baghdad. Worked well with Giuliani. As established above, Kerik became NYC's police commissioner in 2000, well after TW800 went down in 1996 -- local assistance was rejected by Clinton administration officials.
Quoting from the press release announcing his 2000 appointment as commissioner:
"'Today, it gives me great pleasure to swear in as Police Commissioner a man of proven ability, talent, and judgement.' Mayor Giuliani said. 'Bernard Kerik was critical to the Department of Correction's great success over the past six-and-a-half years. He led that Department to higher and higher levels of achievement with his talent and managerial skill.
"'And now he will do the same for the NYPD, the largest and greatest police department in the United States. I have no doubt that Bernie will rise to the challenge, because he has risen to challenges throughout his career.
"'In the New York City Police Department, Bernie served with distinction, earning assignment on the Justice Department's New York Drug Enforcement Task Force. On that Task Force, he helped direct narcotics investigations that resulted in the conviction of more than 60 members of the Cali Cartel. Bernie understands what leadership is all about. He knows how to inspire others to the highest level of performance, and expects others to rise to the same level,' the Mayor continued.
"Police Commissioner Kerik said, 'I am honored that Mayor Giuliani has appointed me as the 40th Police Commissioner of this great City. I know and understand the difficult work that police officers do, and I pledge to every member of the Department that I will work with you, and for you. Together, we will continue the crime reduction efforts that have made the NYPD the premiere police department in the nation. Together, we will also work with the diverse communities of this City to ensure quality police services to every resident.'
"Bernard B. Kerik was appointed the 40th Police Commissioner of the City of New York by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani on August 21, 2000. As the leader of the largest municipal police department in the United States, Commissioner Kerik oversees a uniformed force of more than 41,000 officers, a civilian force of more than 14,500 which includes the 3,500 member School Safety Division and 2,000 member Traffic Control Division, and an annual budget of more than $3.2 billion.
"Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Kerik served as Commissioner of the Department of Correction, a position to which he was appointed on January 1, 1998. He previously served for three years as the Department of Correction's First Deputy Commissioner and, prior to that, as the agency's Executive Assistant to the Commissioner and Director of the Investigations Division. He is credited with dramatically improving the safety of the city's jail system, reducing inmate-on-inmate violence by 93% over the past 5 years, and staff use of force by 76%. His tenure was also marked by greatly improved agency efficiency, including a 44% reduction in agency overtime expenditures and a 31% reduction in staff sick leave. His Total Efficiency Accountability Management System (T.E.A.M.S.) is currently a finalist for the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award sponsored by Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
"Commissioner Kerik served with the New York Police Department (NYPD) from July 1986 to May 1994, in both uniformed and plain clothes duty. He was later assigned to the most substantial narcotic investigations in the history of the Department, resulting in the conviction of more than 60 members of the Cali Cartel.
"Before joining the NYPD, Commissioner Kerik served as Warden of the Passaic County jail, the largest county adult correctional facility in New Jersey, in 1986. There, he also served as the Department's Training Officer and Commander of the Special Weapons and Operations Units. In December 1997, Mr. Kerik was appointed by the Mayor to the New York City Gambling Control Commission. Mr. Kerik also chairs the Michael Buczek Foundation's annual fund-raiser that honors law enforcement across the nation.
"Commissioner Kerik also spent three years in the U.S. Army as an MP, assigned to Korea and to the 18th Airborne Corps, where he trained Special Forces personnel at the John F. Kennedy Unconventional Warfare Center in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
"Commissioner Kerik, 45, lives in the Bronx with his wife Hala, and their five-month-old daughter Celine. He also has a 15-year-old son, Joseph, from a previous marriage.
