Topic: Bernard Kerik

Bernard Bailey "Bernie" Kerik (born September 4, 1955 in Newark, New Jersey) is a former American law-enforcement officer. Kerik was Police Commissioner of the City of New York from 2000 to 2001, under Mayor Rudy Giuliani. In December 2004, George W. Bush nominated Kerik as Secretary of Homeland Security. A week later, Kerik withdrew his nomination, explaining that he had employed an illegal immigrant as a nanny; subsequently, numerous allegations surfaced which would likely have led to a confirmation battle. In 2006, Kerik pled guilty to two unrelated ethics violations after an investigation by the Bronx District Attorney's Office, and was ordered to pay $221,000. He is currently under Federal investigation: A grand jury issued a multi-count indictment on November 8, 2007 alleging conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and lying to the Internal Revenue Service. Kerik surrendered to authorities on Friday, November 9, 2007, was arraigned before Magistrate Judge George Yanthis in White Plains, New York Federal Court, and pled not guilty to all 16 charges.

The son of Donald Raymond Kerik, Sr. and Patricia Joann Bailey, Kerik was born in Newark, New Jersey into a Roman Catholic family, and raised in Paterson, New Jersey.

Kerik attended Eastside High School, but dropped out to enlist in the army. He later received a General Equivalency Diploma. After leaving the New York City Police Department, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from Empire State College of the State University of New York in 2002. He also attended Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.