EXCLUSIVE: During the talks I had with former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik in recent months, he made no secret of his contempt for those he said are aiming to disgrace him. "The prosecutor in this case brought the charges because of who I am," he told me during one of my stops to his Franklin Lakes home earlier this year. "The best way to deal with it now is to go to trial." But he took it further, giving one of his attorneys confidential documents that we were posted on his defense site, in violation of a consent order.
"It's disappointing and upsetting that someone can take 30 years of unparalleled service to his country, dedicated service to his country, and then place a cloud over it with the appearance that everything you've ever done is wrong," Kerik told me during our first meeting, in the office of the home that secured his bond.
However, a judge on Tuesday said what Kerik apparently did online was wrong, so he ordered that he remain jailed at least until jurors are selected next week for his trial. Federal prosecutors have accused Kerik of accepting extensive renovations to his Bronx apartment from a contractor with suspected mob ties in exchange for help obtaining city work, among other allegations in the case.
"My fear is that he has a toxic combination of self-minded focus and arrogance, and I fear that combination leads him to believe that his ends justify his means," said U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Robinson, noting that Kerik could have tainted jury pool.
Born in Paterson in 1956, the former high school dropout cultivated a distinguished career before the allegations came to light. He served in the military and trained members of the Special Forces in karate (He's a black belt).
After working as an investigator and guard for Saudi Arabian royalty, he returned to New Jersey to become warden of the Passaic County Jail.
After taking office, Giuliani made him director of investigations of the Correction Department in 1994, and by 1997, Kerik was the correction commissioner -- when, prosecutors say, the alleged crimes occurred.
Two years later, he became probably the most famous police commissioner in city history.
President Bush, after meeting Kerik at Ground Zero, later sent him on a mission to help shore up the Iraqi police. He then nominated Kerik as Homeland Security secretary in 1995, but, by then questions about his conduct while in office in New York City were being raised, so he withdrew himself from consideration.
Kerik had been keeping busy in the months leading up to the trial -- spending time with young daughters, attending various functions, tending to his web site, and often making private trips to see ordinary citizens who'd expressed an interest or need. A father of four, he'd also been working on a children's book about 9/11.
There was also talk about a possible TV movie, but that's since vanished.
One thing never changed: Wherever he's gone, uniform officers have shown Kerik respect. For instance, he was mobbed when he showed up at the funeral of slain Jersey City Police Officer Marc Dinardo, after his SUV was allowed past various checkpoints leading to the church.
Although police brass often publicly kept their distance, the public demonstrations by rank-and-file officers helped buoy him the past several months.
"It's difficult dealing with it emotionally," he said. "Financially, it's crippling. The prosecutors are doing everything they can in this case to try and rip [me] apart."
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Top left: Kerik sits on the front steps of his Franklin Lakes home with two of his trained guard dogs, then types on his laptop at his home office desk.
Top right: Kerik after the funeral for Jersey City Police Officer Marc Dinardo.
Right: In his home office, decorated with countless awards, citations and photos taken with various worldwide dignitaries.
Bottom: One of the three is going to fetch that toss.
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Susan Harvey
said:
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Kerick seething at prosecutors now awaits trial in jail This is a shame, he is a good guy.. I agree they are targeting him because of who he is.. |
