NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik's Funeral Held at St. Patrick's Cathedral

<img src="https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/2025/06/06/943f2b6f-8dac-42d2-8030-cd7c91bb256c/d8b0f04a5b20217d74f247f07635846f.jpg" alt="Bernard Kerik's Funeral">

Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik, who led the department through the 9/11 attacks, passed away on May 29th at age 69 after a private illness. His funeral was held on June 6th at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown Manhattan.

A City Mourns a Leader

A portion of Fifth Avenue was closed for the procession, where uniformed officers carried Kerik's casket, draped in the American flag, into the iconic cathedral. Many lined the streets to pay their respects. See Chopper 2 footage here.

<img src="https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2025/06/06/a2f068c8-1f55-444a-81bc-4fc9a7b30eb1/thumbnail/640x360/9b97417e4bf721a1d90e4d1bbf8f573e/bernard-kerik-funeral-1-wcbse3vr-hi-res-still.jpg?v=8e774d26301ae5e7a27489083c0cf8b6" alt="Bernard Kerik's Funeral Procession">

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a close friend, shared that Kerik was "like a brother" and that he was a better man for knowing him. Mayor Eric Adams praised Kerik's leadership, stating that he "led from the front," protecting the city.

The NYPD also paid tribute, highlighting Kerik's nearly two decades of service and his role in the city's post-9/11 rebuilding.

A Complex Legacy

Beyond his time with the NYPD, Kerik served as the head of the provisional police force in Iraq and was briefly considered for the Department of Homeland Security. However, his career also included a 2009 guilty plea to tax fraud charges, resulting in a three-year prison sentence. He was later pardoned by President Trump in 2020. He was also subpoenaed to testify in the Georgia election interference investigation.

This event marks a somber moment for New York City, remembering a figure whose life is filled with both service and controversy.