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By Illinois Review
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Bernard B. Kerik, former New York Police Commissioner and a cherished friend of Illinois Review’s Editor-in-Chief Mark Vargas, passed away on May 29, 2025, after a private battle with illness. He was 69.
Kerik’s life was marked by uncommon courage, fierce patriotism, and an unwavering dedication to public service. For those who knew him personally, like Vargas, his passing is not just a national loss—but a deeply personal one. He was more than a public figure; he was a loyal friend, a trusted confidant, and a man who always showed up when it mattered most.
Kerik rose to national prominence on September 11, 2001. As the 40th Commissioner of the New York Police Department, he rushed to Ground Zero and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani as the second plane struck the South Tower. In the hours and days that followed, he worked tirelessly to coordinate emergency response, offering a calm, commanding presence as New Yorkers grappled with the unthinkable. That image—Kerik walking through smoke and rubble, leading from the front—is etched into America’s memory.
His career in public service spanned more than four decades. A U.S. Army veteran and lifelong law enforcement officer, Kerik’s service earned him more than 100 medals and commendations, including a presidential commendation for heroism from President Ronald Reagan and two Distinguished Service Awards from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He had rescued victims from burning buildings, survived assassination attempts, and helped bring some of the world’s most dangerous criminals to justice.
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