Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Thursday, February 22, 2001

Release # 053-01

 
Contact: Sunny Mindel/Lynn Rasic
Tom Antenen (DCPI)
212-788-2958
212-374-6700




MAYOR GIULIANI APPOINTS BERNARD KERIK TO FIVE-YEAR TERM AS POLICE COMMISSIONER


Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today appointed Bernard B. Kerik, who was named Commissioner of the New York City Police Department this past August, to a new five-year term as Commissioner.

"I am delighted to appoint Commissioner Kerik to a new five-year term as Police Commissioner," Mayor Giuliani said. "Since his initial appointment this past August, Bernie has already had a significant impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department. He continues to display outstanding leadership, inspiring members of the NYPD to the highest levels of professionalism. His firm commitment to protecting all New Yorkers has helped New York City not only remain the safest large City in America, but also to remain at the forefront of crime reduction in the nation."

"When I was appointed Police Commissioner last August, I called it the greatest job in the world. The last six months have only solidified that assessment. Mayor Giuliani has given me the privilege of leading 55,000 of the most dedicated professionals you will find anywhere, and the heroism and sacrifice they demonstrate everyday is the reason why New York is the safest large city in the nation, and getting safer every day," Commissioner Kerik said.

During Commissioner Kerik's tenure, major crime in New York City has dropped by 4.4%, while homicides have been reduced by 9.1%. From January 1 through February 18, 2001, the City has seen a remarkable 20% reduction in homicides over the same time period last year.

Commissioner Kerik has implemented policies to improve the Department and its relationships with the communities it serves. The Commissioner has led by example by personally attending more than 100 meetings with community leaders and clergy throughout the five boroughs. In addition, he now holds precinct commanders responsible for improving relations with the communities they serve. The Commissioner is initiating a Citywide survey to measure police effectiveness and community satisfaction with the Department in order to improve both.

Among the innovations Commissioner Kerik introduced is a significant expansion of the Department's warrant enforcement division dedicated to apprehending wanted felons and career criminals. This program has already brought 300 wanted felons to justice. Commissioner Kerik has also engineered a complete restructuring of the Department's Intelligence Division giving quicker and more complete criminal intelligence information to patrol officers and ensuring better cooperation with other agencies. In addition, the Commissioner has initiated a massive program to improve the working environment of the men and women of the Police Department by renovating and repairing police facilities, as well as by deploying an additional 600 officers directly to precincts and patrol commands.

Kerik was appointed the 40th Police Commissioner of the City of New York by Mayor Giuliani on August 21, 2000. Leading the largest municipal police department in the United States, Commissioner Kerik oversees a uniformed force of more than 41,000 officers, and a civilian force of more than 14,500, which includes the 3,500 member School Safety Division and 2,000 member Traffic Control Division, at annual budget of more than $3.2 billion.

Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Kerik served as Commissioner of the Department of Correction, a position to which he was appointed on January 1, 1998. During his tenure, he was responsible for dramatically improving the safety of the city's jail system, reducing inmate-on-inmate violence by 93% over the past 5 years, and staff use-of-force by 76%. His accomplishments also include much-improved agency efficiency, including a 44% reduction in agency overtime expenditures and a 31% reduction in staff sick leave.

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