On May 29 at 10:02 PM, The New York Police Department announced on X that former Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik has passed away at the age of 69 from a heart affliction. Kerik was Police Commissioner, oversaw the response of law enforcement during the deadly 9/11 attacks and was appointed by President George W. Bush as Interim Interior Minister of the Coalition Provisional Authority during the United States’ efforts in Iraq.
Later, on Nov. 8, 2007, Kerik was charged with tax fraud and pleaded guilty in 2009 to eight charges of false charges and tax fraud, although was later pardoned by Donald Trump on Feb. 18, 2020. Kerik has earned 30 NYPD medals for his service in law enforcement and has published several books, one being “Jailor to Jailed,” which documented his experience being charged and placed in prison as well as his thoughts on the American Justice System during his imprisonment.
According to FBI Director Kash Patel, Kerik passed away “after a private battle with illness” as many mourned. According to some who feel sorrow for his passing, Kerik is one of a kind and a hero and are glad to see an official sendoff by the Police Department for the past Commissioner. However not everybody seems to feel the same. Some seem to feel that it’s odd for a convicted felon to receive such a warm sendoff and others seem to feel that he was a disgrace and expressed their feelings on the matter in the comments of the post announcing Kerik’s passing.
