December 17, 2004 Lapses Feared in 2000 Vetting of Kerik By KEVIN FLYNN and WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM n the days since Bernard B. Kerik withdrew his nomination as homeland security secretary late last week, the city's Department of Investigation has grown increasingly concerned about possible lapses in the background check it conducted on him before he was appointed New York's 40th police commissioner in 2000.The agency said in a statement yesterday that it has been unable to find any evidence that Mr. Kerik had filled out a background form, as usually required, before his appointment to the post by...