BERNARD B. KERIK - Retired New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik is a dynamic, riveting and captivating speaker who uses his real-life experience to inspire, motivate and challenge global leaders in business and government organizations of all sizes. 

40th Police Commissioner of the City of New York, responsible for 55,000 civilian and uniform personnel, and a $3.2 billion budget. His term was marked by dramatic reductions in crime, enhanced community relations, and his unflinching leadership and oversight, as he led New York City through the devastating attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11, overseeing the rescue, recovery and investigation. In 2001, he was one of the founding members of the Board of Trustees of the Twin Towers Fund, which raised and distributed $216 million to over 600 families related the emergency service workers killed on 9/11.

BOOK SPEAKER  MEDIA KIT

ABOUT | VIDEOS | SPEECH TOPICS | THE BOOKS

About Bernard B. Kerik

Bernard Kerik is one of the most dynamic, undisputed, controversial and accomplished leaders in law enforcement, correction, and national security in the United States. For more than thirty years, he served his country with distinction, honor, and valor, most notably as New York City's 40th Police Commissioner, in command of the NYPD on September 11, 2001, and responsible for the city's response, rescue, recovery, and the investigative efforts of the most substantial terror attack in world history.

Prior to the NYPD, for close to six years, he served as First Deputy, and Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction, overseeing the New York City jail system, including Rikers Island, the largest and most violent jail system in the country at the time. Through his leadership, the department achieved unparalleled success in management, accountability, and safety and security.

He has spent ten years working in the Middle-East for the ruling families of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan; and in 2003 was appointed by the White House, as the Interim Minister of the Interior of Iraq following the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Considered one of the most decorated police commissioners in the history of the New York City Police Department, in the line of duty, he has rescued people from burning buildings, been stabbed, shot at, and saved his partner who had been wounded in a gun battle. He survived the terror attacks on 9/11 and a bomb plot in Iraq. He has been the target of numerous death threats, seized tons of cocaine and millions in drugs proceeds from the Cali Cartel, and brought cop killers, Colombian drug lords and Iraqi terrorists to justice.

His service to his country has been recognized in more than 100 awards for public and heroic service, including the New York City Police Department's Medal for Valor and 29 NYPD medals for excellent and meritorious service. He has been commended for heroism by President Ronald Reagan, received the DEA Administrator's Award, two Distinguished Service Awards from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, The Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and an appointment as Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

About the Books

The controversial New York City police commissioner and New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Son shares the story of his fall from grace and the effects of his incarceration on his views of the American justice system.

Bernard Kerik was New York City’s police commissioner during the 9/11 attacks, and became an American hero as he led the NYPD through rescue and recovery efforts of the World Trade Center. His résumé as a public servant is long and storied, and includes receiving a Medal of Honor. In 2004, Kerik was nominated by George W. Bush to head the Department of Homeland Security.

Now, he is a former Federal Prison Inmate known as #84888-054.

Convicted of tax fraud and false statements in 2007, Kerik was sentenced to four years in federal prison. Now, for the first time, he talks candidly about what it was like on the inside: the torture of solitary confinement, the abuse of power, the mental and physical torment of being locked up in a cage, the powerlessness. With newfound perspective, Kerik makes a plea for change and illuminates why our punishment system doesn’t always fit the crime.

In this extraordinary memoir, Kerik reveals his unprecedented view of the American penal system from both sides: as the jailer and the jailed. With astonishing candor, bravery, and insider’s intelligence, Bernard Kerik shares his fall from grace to incarceration, and turns it into a genuine and uniquely insightful argument for criminal justice reform.

An intimate portrait of the courageous and honorable fortieth Police Commissioner of New York City details his mission to fight the injustice around him and to solve the mystery of his own mother, who abandoned him forty-one years ago.

An exciting police thriller from New York Times Bestselling author and former NYC police commissioner Bernard Kerik

A story of suspense, murder, and terrorist conspiracy ripped from today's headlines

“Kerik, a comic book hero come to life.” —The New York Times

“SHOTS FIRED CENTRAL! 26 Sergeant to Central… Shot fired… cop down at one-two-five and Broadway – get a bus … suspect running towards the Westside Highway just off of Broadway!”

New York City Police Commissioner Rick Raymond was a captain back in 2001 when terrorist planes struck the Twin Towers, killing thousands…including fellow police officers and Raymond’s wife. Ever since that awful day, as he climbed the ranks, Raymond vowed to protect his city, his police force, and citizens. For Raymond this means an uncompromising dedication to his duties, while at the same time juggling the political demands of his office – the grandstanding mayor, the ever-questioning press, and oh yes, his torrid (but secret) romance with District Attorney Sheilah Dannis.

During the aftermath of a shooting in Times Square that left on cop dead and one gravely wounded, Raymond finds himself at the center of the drama when he confronts and takes out cop killer. When the cop killer is revealed to be a radical Islamic terrorist, Raymond’s vow takes him on a dangerous mission to save and protect New York City from another devastating attack – a mission that will take a very personal toll.

The events unfold at a breakneck pace, making The Grave Above the Grave a page-turning novel of suspense and derring-do. The stakes have never been higher.

VIDEOS AND MEDIA 

SPEECH TOPICS

Terrorism, Crisis Management and Leadership in a post 9/11 World

From his experiences as a NYPD officer and undercover narcotics cop and detective assigned to the US Drug Enforcement Administration fighting the Cali Cartel, to his leadership of the Department of Correction, one of the largest jail systems in the US and as New York City’s 40th Police Commissioner, Bernard Kerik has managed crises that are a part of the day-to-day law enforcement efforts of NYC, and he is also a leader who faced one of the worst tragedies in American history. On September 11, 2001 everything he had ever learned or experienced was tested – and Kerik rose to the challenge. He was at the scene within moments after the first plane hit tower one and worked with Mayor Giuliani to coordinate rescue efforts at ground zero – ensuring the city’s safety and reassuring Americans. He shares with audiences the lessons he has learned and his philosophies on leadership and management, especially times of crisis.

Leadership Under Fire on September 11, 2001, and the Realities of Living in a Post 9/11 World

From Mr. Kerik's experiences as a highly decorated and battle-tested NYPD uniform and plainclothes policeman and detective assigned to the US Drug Enforcement Administration, fighting the Cali Cartel, to his leadership as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction, one of the largest jail systems in the US, and as New York City’s 40th Police Commissioner, he has managed crises that were a part of the day-to-day law enforcement efforts of New York City.

He has also been a leader who faced one of the worst terror attacks and tragedies in world history. On September 11, 2001 everything he had ever learned or experienced was tested – and Kerik rose to the challenge.

He was at the scene within moments after the first plane hit tower one and worked with Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani to coordinate the response, rescue, recovery, and investigative efforts at ground zero – ensuring the city’s safety, and reassuring Americans. He shares with audiences the lessons he has learned and his philosophies on leadership and management, especially times of crisis.

After working and living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for more than four years, and as a security advisor to King Abdullah II of Jordan for nearly five years, coupled with the months he spent in Iraq as interim Minister of the Interior and senior policy advisor to the U.S. Presidential Envoy of Iraq, Mr. Kerik discusses with eye-opening candor, international terrorism and the threats facing the United States, in a post 9/11 world.

His inspirational and insightful presentation contains many lessons that can be applied to business, government and all aspects of life, such as the leadership challenge, organizational re-structuring, managing stress, and adaptability.

Overcoming Adversity

In the line of duty, Bernard Kerik has rescued people from burning buildings, been stabbed, shot at, and saved his partner who had been wounded in a gun battle.

He survived a bombing plot in Iraq and the terror attack on 9/11. He has been the target of numerous death threats, seized tons of cocaine and millions in drugs proceeds from the Cali Cartel, and brought cop killers, Colombian drug lords and Iraqi terrorists to justice.

His service to his country has been recognized in more than 100 awards for public and heroic service, including the New York City Police Department's Medal for Valor, and 29 other medals for excellent and meritorious service.

He has been commended for heroism, by President Ronald Reagan, received the DEA Administrator's Award from the U.S. Justice Department, two Distinguished Service Awards from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, The Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and an appointment as Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; yet his most difficult and personally challenging battle came at the hands of the very government that he loyally and valiantly served for more than three decades.

Learn the riveting personal story of this high school drop out who was abandoned by his mother at the age of three, and herself later murdered - beaten to death; yet he went on to run two of the largest law enforcement agencies in the country and be nominated for one of the hight presidential cabinet posts in America.

Hear his stories of survival, regret, betrayal, justice and injustice, and how he was targeted and imprisoned by the same government that he had loyally and valiantly served for more than thirty years.

This bonafide American hero will teach you how to transform your own self-disappointment, frustration, pain, and anger, into a fuel that gets you to your next destination.

The Renaissance of New York City

Crime Reduction, Turning Around the Nation's Largest Jail System and Criminal Justice Reform

Along with New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, Bernard Kerik played a major role in the turn-around and resurgence of vitality in the Big Apple. Through his efforts, the Department of Correction and Police Department were re-organized and modified.

During his tenure as police commissioner, crime fell more than 12%, officer morale improved and police/community relations reached an all-time high.

New York City – once infamous around the world for its dangerous streets – had been recognized by the F.B.I. as the safest large city in America, and the city’s law enforcement strategies have become models for other cities around the world. Kerik details strategies and accomplishments in the revitalization of New York City.

In 1994, a New York Magazine front page cover story read: Is Rikers About to Explode?

One of the largest and violent penal colonies in the world with a daily inmate population of more than 22,000, New York City's jail system averaged 100 stabbings and slashings a month.

During Mr. Kerik's six-year tenure managing the agency, the inmate on inmate violence was reduced by more than 93%, overtime spending more by than 45%, and inmate assaults on staff by more than 38%. Through his Total Efficiency Accountability Management System (TEAMS), the New York City Jail System was transformed from one of the most violent and mismanaged in America to an international role model of efficiency, accountability, and safety and security.

Hear how today's criminal justice and prison systems, can use his management and accountability principals, and unparalleled success and achievements, to better their own agencies.

TESTIMONIALS / TRIBUTES

“You are an inspiration to all of us”
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom TONY BLAIR

“Blacks, Latinos hail Kerik was Best Commish bar none”
The New York Daily News

“One of most accomplished and effective leaders of law enforcement in America”
President of the United States GEORGE W. BUSH

Under Kerik’s Command of the NYPD “Crime show the biggest drop in five years"
The New York Times

“A hero to New York City and to our country”
Former New York City Mayor RUDOLPH W. GIULIANI

”Kerik’s “Iron hand dramatically reduces violence on Rikers”
The New York Times

“America is lucky to have a patriot such as yourself”
His Majesty KING ABDULLAH II, Kingdom of Jordan

“Kerik, a comic book hero come to life”
The New York Times

“A true leader and hero for the people of my country”
AHMED KHADIM IBRAHIM, former Deputy Interior Minister of Iraq

“He was born to Protect and Serve” and “The Man that tamed Rikers Island”
The New York Post

“An excellent Police Commissioner and Courageous Leader on 9/11”
Former New York City Mayor RUDOLPH W. GIULIANI

For Booking Information or Media Requests, contact Judy Landreth Wilkinson

[email protected] | (706) 518-2116.