Bernard Bailey Kerik ( born September 4 , 1955 ) is an American former police officer , consultant , and convicted felon . Born in Newark , New Jersey , he served in the United States Army from 1974 to 1977 . He then worked various law enforcement jobs in the United States and abroad , joining the New York Police Department ( NYPD ) in 1986 . He is perhaps best known for his 1998-2000 tenure as commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction and his 2000-01 tenure as New York City Police Commissioner , during which he oversaw the police response to the September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Bernard Kerik