Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Tom Antenen (212) 266-1055 (Correction)
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today administered the oath of office to Bernard B. Kerik as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction. Joining Mayor Giuliani and Commissioner Kerik at today's City Hall Ceremony were U.S. Congressman William J. Pascrell; New York State Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio; Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro; Jack Terhune, New Jersey State Correction Commissioner; members of the Department of Correction; and family and friends of Commissioner Kerik.
"Today, it gives me great pleasure to swear in as Commissioner of the Department of Correction a man who has been at the very center of Correction's success over the past four years, Bernard Kerik," Mayor Giuliani said. "Ever since Bernie joined the Department as Director of the Investigations Division in 1994, and then later as First Deputy Commissioner, he has led the Department of Correction to higher and higher levels of achievement with his talent and managerial skill. He has repeatedly proven himself to be a strong, effective and intelligent leader who reacts immediately to the challenges of the day and also has considerable creative vision for the future.
"I know Bernie will make his family and friends proud. He has risen to challenges all throughout his career. In the New York City Police Department he served with distinction, earning assignment on the Justice Department's New York Drug Enforcement Task Force. On that Task Force, he helped direct narcotics investigations that resulted in the conviction of more than 60 members of the Cali Cartel. Bernie understands what leadership is all about. He knows how to inspire others to the highest level of performance, and expects others to rise to the same level of greatness," the Mayor concluded.
Commissioner Kerik said, "I am grateful that Mayor Giuliani has given me the opportunity to continue the work that we have done in reducing inmate violence and managing the jails more efficiently. I am very proud to head up the finest correctional force in the nation. Because of Mayor Giuliani's support, Correction has seen a dramatic turnaround over the last five years. I know that with his continued vision for this agency we can make even greater strides toward keeping the jail system safer and more secure for both staff and inmates. I also would like to acknowledge the accomplishments of my predecessor, Michael Jacobson, whose hard work and dedication set a standard of excellence for the entire agency."
Prior to his appointment as the Department's First Deputy Commissioner in January 1995, Commissioner Kerik joined Correction as Director of the Investigations Division. Before that, he served with the New York Police Department (NYPD) from July 1986 to May 1994 in both uniformed and plain clothes duty. He was later assigned to the most substantial narcotic investigations in the history of the Department, resulting in the conviction of more than 60 members of the Cali Cartel.
Before joining the NYPD, Commissioner Kerik served as Warden of the Passaic County jail, the largest county adult correctional facility in New Jersey in 1986. There, he also served as the Department's Training Officer and Commander of the Special Weapons and Operations Units.
In December, 1997, Mr. Kerik was appointed by the Mayor as a member of the newly formed New York City Gambling Control Commission. Mr. Kerik also chairs the Michael Buczek Foundation's annual fund-raiser that honors law enforcement across the nation.
A Bronx resident, Commissioner Kerik, 42 spent three years in the U.S. Army as an MP, assigned to Korea and to the 18th Airborne Corps, where he trained Special Forces personnel at the John F. Kennedy Unconventional Warfare Center in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. As Commissioner, Mr. Kerik will earn $136,990 annually.
The 11,000 New York City Correction Officers have played a pivotal role in the historic reductions in crime. Despite an increase in inmate population, violent incidents in City jails have been reduced by 84 percent since 1994.