Bernard Kellick, New York City’s 40th Police Commissioner, Remembered
Bernard Kellick, who served as New York City’s 40th Police Commissioner, became a symbol of resilience during the events of 9/11. He recently passed away at the age of 69, leaving behind a distinctive legacy.
When you first encountered him, he often seemed guarded, visibly cautious, and, well, maybe not the most trusting. This behavior was likely shaped by years spent navigating the often turbulent waters of national security and politics, where he thrived in one aspect while facing brutal setbacks in another.
Who can really blame him for being defensive? No one, not even former President Donald Trump, suffered more from the relentless onslaught of political attacks than Commissioner Kerick. After his dedicated service to New York post-9/11 and a stint with the interim Iraqi authorities, he was appointed Secretary of Homeland Security by President George W. Bush in 2004.
In his bestselling book, I Was Imprisoned by the Guards, Kerick recounted his unique experiences, detailing his time not just as a commissioner for the New York City Department of Corrections but also his tumultuous journey within the NYPD and beyond. Despite the highs and lows, he never sought vengeance against his detractors. That was just part of who Bernard Kellick was.
Kerick spent numerous years in the Middle East, advising on security measures for various entities, including King Jordan. His expertise became invaluable over more than a decade in that region.
During Donald Trump’s presidency, Commissioner Kellick championed the First Steps Act, a significant reform that culminated in the release of many unjustly incarcerated individuals.
Prison reform was close to Kerick’s heart. Growing up in Newark and Patterson, New Jersey, he had firsthand experience with the unspoken biases that lingered in urban America. Given his background and the realities of prison life in his home state, his drive to advocate for reform was undeniable. It was simply Bernard Kellick’s way.
If you took the time to know Bernie personally, you’d find beneath that serious façade a genuine warmth and a real concern for others. He had ties to a broad circle of friends—some were quite influential, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
As the son of a NYC police officer, I recall a particularly chilly day in 2018, just after Bernie’s father had passed. He asked for his dad’s NYPD badge number. A few days later, following a heavy snowstorm, he came to my father’s memorial to gift me a replica of the NYPD shield that my father had once worn proudly.
That was typical of Bernard Kerick—thoughtful and generous.
In the past few weeks, friends and family rallied around him. Mayor Eric Adams, who had fostered his own bond with Commissioner Kerick, even visited him in the hospital to pay his respects.
In light of this, I propose that the mayor find a way to honor the life that Kerick lived with such dignity and purpose by naming a street in his name near the Shadow of Freedom Tower.
Few have accomplished as much in their lives as Commissioner Bernard Kerick. Fortunately, the values he embodied continue to inspire all of us as we remember his legacy.
