DEATH OF MAN'S BEST FRIEND

 

In the spring of 1975, I was introduced to my new partner.
I was a U.S. Army military police officer, and he was a four year old German Shepherd, with which I would ultimately patrol and secure, one of our government s nuclear missile batteries, in Sak Sa Ni, South Korea.

With his army serial number, Y102, tattooed on the inside of his right ear, he stood on the inside of his kennel, staring and growling at me, as if I were the enemy. My sergeant said, "have a seat right there in front of him, feed him some meat and cheese every so often, and eventually he'll allow you in the kennel, so you can take him out for a walk."
Well, it wasn't as easy as it sounded. King was a sentry dog, one of the most aggressive types of working dogs in the U.S. armed forces. Their training consisted of basic obedience, agitation, and extremely aggressive attack work. They were not trained for socializing as police patrol dogs or house pets. They were trained to alert on intruders, attack them, and rip them to shreds, and King was quite good at his job.

Given that sentry dogs, were "one handler" dogs, his prior handler had left Korea to return to the United States, and I was to be his new partner and handler. That was if, he allowed me.
Over the next few days, he ate tons of treats, and I got closer to my new pal. And, once I got up the nerve to take him out of the kennel, we became one; A partnership, closer than most people would understand.

He was a stunning black and tan German Shepherd, and he looked just like Rin Tin Tin, another German Shepherd with U.S. Army roots. Rin Tin Tin, or Rinty as he was called, was found as a small pup in Lorrain, France, by U.S. Air Corporal, Lee Duncan, back in 1918, during World War I. He was eventually brought back to the U.S.. where he died at in 1932, but not before leaving a bloodline that wound up in a weekly TV adventure between 1954 and 1959, that every kid at the time, including me, loved and admired. It was he I thought of, when I first met, and began working with King.
King would respond to my voice, my hand commands, or to a look, or a movement. I didn't have to say a word, but he knew what I was thinking and why. With me, he was playful and loving, but with anyone else, he was deadly. He had no fear and he had no hesitation. If he perceived a threat, he dealt with it the way he knew how, and you didn't want to be on the receiving end.
In 1976, I left Korea, and I left King to a new handler. In the past 35 years, I have thought of him often.

Since then I have had many dogs, most recently, Duke and Duchess. Both German Shepherds, both trained like King, and playful, loving and caring members of my family. Both enormously protective.
For someone that has never had a dog, or a pet of any kind, it is difficult to understand, how close you can become to an animal. In June 2011, Duke passed away, and there are no words to explain how horrible that loss was, for me and my family. He is sadly missed, which is why I felt compelled to write about the recent loss of another German Shepherd.
His name was Ape, and he was 2 years and 4 months old, and had been on active duty for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for just over two weeks.
Two days ago, he was shot and killed by a deranged gunman, who had already shot and killed four people in Herkimer, New York.

Ape was a tactical dog, much like the one that accompanied the U.S. Navy SEALS on the raid that resulted in the death of Osama Bin Laden. Equipped with a camera, he entered an abandoned bar in the small upstate New York town, with and FBI assault team behind him, in search for the murder suspect. As he breached the door, he was shot in the chest by the gunman, who was then shot and killed by the FBI.

Ape was transported to a local veterinarian, where he died from his wounds. He was later transported to FBI Headquarters, where he will be buried, and his name will be added to a memorial for dogs killed in the line of duty.

As someone who trained dogs for more than 30 years, I know that Ape died doing something he loved doing. It was what he was trained to do, and although it cost him his life, he saved the lives of his handler and teammates, which could have been killed or seriously hurt.

Dating back to the days of Rin Tin Tin, and King, military and police dogs have increasingly become an important tool, in military operations, and law enforcement. Ape's loss is a demonstration, of just how important their missions are, or deadly they could be.
As an American citizen, I am grateful for his service, and his ultimate sacrifice... for his loss allowed others to live.

As a dog handler and trainer, my thoughts and prayers are with his team members, and most importantly his handler and trainer. It is he or she that will feel this loss the most.
To his handler, Ape wasn't just a dog, or a pet, or a tool. He was a partner, a protector, and patriot, and most importantly, he was a best friend.

A friend that will be missed forever.

God Bless his teammates that put their lives on the line for this country, and may Ape, forever rest in peace.

BERNARD B. KERIK

Taxpayers, Economy and Society Benefit from Prison Reform

According to the U.S. Attorney General's Office in a recent article in "Business Insider," the sequestration could result in a major budget cut to the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to the tune of approximately $338 million.

Representatives from the Department of Justice said that they are "acutely concerned" about inmate and staff safety, a sentiment echoed by Attorney General Eric Holder, who said that these cuts could endanger the lives of staff and inmates in the federal prison system.

The recent murder of federal correction officer Eric Williams at the U.S. Penitentiary at Canaan, a high security prison for men, is a vivid reminder of the dangers our nation's correctional staff face daily, but could be worsened by the budget cuts as a result of the sequestration.
In addition to cuts that could jeopardize staff and inmate safety, freezing future hiring  and forcing 36,700 BOP staff to take an average of 12 days unpaid furlough during the remainder of the fiscal year will devastate staff morale to say the least, not to mention the financial burden such actions will have on BOP staff members and their families.

For the past two decades, criminal justice experts around the country, including several former Republican and Democratic attorney's general, state and federal judges and prosecutors, and members of the U.S. Congress have been racking their brains in an attempt to address criminal justice and prison reform.

One thing that has consistently been on the table has been considerations for alternative sentencing for first-time and non-violent offenders, in an attempt to reduce the present federal prison population that has gone from 25,000 in 1980 to more than an estimated 229,300 by this year's end. Another possibility has been to enhance good-time incentives, reward inmates for good behavior, and get them back into society faster, where they can work, pay taxes, take care of their families, and pay their fines and restitutions.

There has never been a better time to muster the courage to address this issue than right now.
The BOP presently allocates 54 days incentivized good-time per year, per inmate, far less than many state prison systems around the country. Enhancing the good time allocation from 54 days a year to 120 or 128 days a year could create nearly $1 billion annual savings to the BOP's staggering $6.6 billion budget. The additional good-time incentives would immediately and substantially reduce inmate overcrowding.  In addition, this would be an added incentive for inmates to comply with institutional rules and regulations, thereby reducing violence, creating safer facilities for staff and inmates alike.

Another possible remedy could be the passing of HR-62, the Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2013, that is presently sitting in the House. The bill was introduced on 3 January 2013, and referred to the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations for review on 25 January 2013.

This bill would require the BOP to change its good time policy to require that prisoners be released if they (1) have served one half or more of their sentence, (2) are age 45 or older, (3) have never been convicted of a crime of violence, and (4) have not engaged in any violation of BOP disciplinary rules involving violent conduct.

The passing of this bill could generate another enormous cost savings to the American tax payer, reduce overcrowding, and also create an incentive for better behavior by the inmate population, which reduces violence, making the facilities safer for inmates and staff.

Lastly, BOP wardens have the statutory authority to recommend up to 12 months halfway house/home detention, in addition to an inmate's present allocation of 54 days a year good time. Historically, maximum halfway house/home detention recommendations have been rare; however, this alone could result in substantial cost savings to the American taxpayer.

These are just a few things that could dramatically and immediately reduce the federal prison population without letting violent offenders back on the streets. Such changes would also create enormous cost savings for the American taxpayer, reduce inmate violence in BOP's higher classification facilities, and generate collateral economic income, by getting these offenders back into society so they can work, pay taxes, take care of their family, and pay their restitutions and fines.
There is no question that criminal justice and prison reform will happen some time in the future, but it must begin today.

We cannot jeopardize the safety and security of the men and women who put their lives on the line day in and day out while staffing and securing our nation's prisons. There are ways to effectively and efficiently cut the BOP's budget without doing so.
The benefit to the American taxpayer and the economy can be enormous. The benefit to society could be immeasurable.

There is no better time to begin addressing this issue than today.

MAYOR ED KOCH - REST IN PEACE

There are plenty of things that I could say about the former Mayor of New York City, but I thought this was more fitting. It's a letter to my daughter, reflecting on a good and gracious man. May he rest in peace, and may God bless the family and loved ones he left behind.

---------------

3 February 2013

Dear Celine:

Two days ago, New York City lost one of its greatest assets, former New York City Mayor Ed Koch. He passed away at the age of 88.

He was the Mayor of the City of New York for twelve years, long before you were born...but once on a warm September morning, you and he shared a stage.

It was September 6, 2000, and I was being sworn in as New York City's 40th Police Commissioner. The stage was full of dignitaries, police brass, and religious leaders. At six months old, you were sitting on Mommy's lap, front and center. Grandma and Grandpap sat in the second row and, right next to them, was the former Mayor Ed Koch.

With all the pomp and circumstance, Mayor Koch watched the excitement around him. He smiled and greeted everyone who said hello.

Mommy, who was sitting right in front of Mayor Koch, was holding her hands over your face, trying to protect you from the sun's rays, when the mayor leaned over and handed her his handkerchief.

"Put this over her head," he said, smiling at you. "The sun's no good for her."

Mommy thanked him, took the handkerchief, and placed it over your head, and for the remainder of the ceremony, you slept away.

When it was over, she thanked the kind Mayor, and tried to give the handkerchief back.

"Keep it," he said, "in case you need it."

And there's more to this story.

Twenty-three years earlier, I was working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with dreams of joining the New York City Police Department.

I wasn't sure how to apply for the job, so a friend recommended I call the New York City Department of Personnel and ask to be sent an application to take the NYPD test. I did, but the person I spoke with wasn't very helpful. I called back again and again, all to no avail.

Then my friend said, "Write a letter to the mayor - Mayor Ed Koch - and tell him that you want to join the NYPD and would like an application to apply."

At first I laughed. I knew that the Mayor of New York City had better things to do than respond to employment inquiries, but having nowhere else to turn, I typed out a letter and dropped it in the post.

Three weeks later, I received a short note from Mayor Ed Koch himself, in which he said that he forwarded my request to the appropriate departments, and should I not hear from them in the near future, please write back and let him know.

Within days of receiving his letter, I had more NYPD applications than I knew what to do with!

And the rest is history.

In July of 1986, I stood in the Brooklyn Technical Institute with 2,200 men and women, and was sworn in as a New York City Police Officer by the same mayor who made sure I received the application.

Fourteen years later, we all shared that stage.

Today, a New York City icon, and a great part of the city itself, is gone.

In reflecting on Mayor Koch's life, Chris Ruddy of NewsMax Media said, "He was a model of how a public servant and a good citizen can make a significant difference in the lives of others." In my case, that could never be more true.

When I think of the lessons we learn throughout our lives from others, there are a few very good ones that we could all learn from Mayor Koch.

Patriotism... his was viral!

He loved his city, his country, and his family, more than life itself.

In a recent interview for Vanity Fair, he was asked what was the one thing he most deplored about himself, and he said, "A willingness to go with my gut feeling rather than wait a day and contemplate other options."

When asked if he could change one thing about himself, what would it be, he said, "I would like to be more accepting of the faults of others."

And, one of my favorites, when asked what is the trait he deplored most about others, he replied, "Disloyalty."

Then came a question that took me back to that September morning.

What do you dislike most about your appearance, he was asked. "Sun damage on my face and head," he said. It was the same thing that bothered him about you sitting on that grand stage in the blaring sun.

When Mayor Koch was asked if he were to die and come back as a person or thing, what did he think he would want to be, he responded by saying, "A major political leader here in the United States."

I laughed to myself at that thought. If he were here today, I'd tell him something that he must have known.

Mr. Mayor, you were a major political leader in this country, right up until the day you died. You were relevant, candid, outspoken, and patriotic.

Celine, when Ed Koch was the mayor, no matter where he was or what he was doing, he would ask, "How'm I doing?"

If he were here today, we could tell him together that he did just fine.

I would thank him for his service to New York City and our country. You, my dear, could thank him for his handkerchief. It's a part of a great man that you can cherish forever.

Today, say a prayer for this great American.

Love, Daddy xo

BERNARD B. KERIK

PRAYERS FOR NEWTOWN

Friday's mass murder in Newtown, Connecticut, is one of the most horrifying and unimaginable events in our nation's history.
With it, will come questions about gun control, school safety and security, parenting, and how society responds to, and reports troubled behavior by it's citizens. There will be plenty of time for those debates, but now is not the time.
Although there are no words that will ever ease the pain of those whose loss is incomprehensible, our entire country needs to muster every bit of prayer, compassion and support, for them and their families during this difficult time.

We also need to insure that the courageous teachers and school officials that sheltered surviving students, and those students themselves; and the local, state and federal law enforcement officers, whose job it was to evacuate the school, and process a crime scene that will haunt most of them forever, must be looked after and taken care of.
There is nothing that will erase the images of that day from their minds - ever. I KNOW.
In the aftermath of Newtown, give your own children and loved ones, a special hug and kiss. There are many of our neighbors that will never have that opportunity again.
God Bless them, and remember them always in your thoughts and prayers.


-BERNARD B. KERIK

IN REMEMBRANCE

On November 13, 2001, these words were published in my book, The Lost Son, A Life in Pursuit of Justice.


"The events of September 11, 2001, robbed the New York City Police Department, and the city at large, of 23 extraordinary human beings: police officers, sergeants, and detectives; twenty-two men and one woman who were beloved by their families and valued by the communities they served. But in their sacrifice, these fallen heroes gave the world something truly great in return: a demonstration of unshaken courage in the face of death, and the nobility of the human spirit. In a city of superlatives, theirs was an ultimate act of virtue; let their lives, and their bravery, never be forgotten."


Today, let us also not forget the 343 members of the FDNY, or the 37 Port Authority Police Officers who died as well, or the dozens of first responders from the NYPD, FDNY, AND PAPD that have died since, due to 9/11 related illnesses.


I salute and honor them all, as well as their surviving brothers and sisters in uniform, who on that day, and in the days after, put life before death, in one of the greatest rescue and recovery missions in United States history.


God Bless them all.


-BERNARD B. KERIK

JOE LEWIS - Rest in Peace

In the summer of 1969, I was 13 years old, when I began studying the Martial Arts. I earned my first degree black belt in American Goju Karate in 1972, and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, in Korea in 1975.



The Martial Arts Grand Masters of today, back then, were the top competitors in the world, inspiring young men and women just like me, to train and train hard, and to fight and fight hard. They taught us discipline, respect, and honor.



Chuck Norris, Jeff Smith, Bill Wallace, Joe Lewis, Joe Corely, Mike Stone, and Skipper Mullins, were some that I looked up to, admired and tried to emulate as a fighter and artist. I have had the pleasure of meeting most of them, and the distinct honor of getting to know them personally, and calling them friends. Good friends.



Joe Lewis was one of them. A living legend in the martial arts world, he was inducted into 13 martial arts halls of fame, including Black Belt Magazine, and named Black Belt's Instructor of the Year, and Fighter of the Year.



On Friday, August 31, 2012, Grandmaster Joe Lewis past away. He will be sadly missed by his family and friends, and millions of martial artists around the world. I will miss an inspiration, a good man, and a great friend.



My thoughts and prayers are with his family, during this difficult time.



-BERNARD B. KERIK

Happy Father's Day

For years as a child, on Father's Day, I would give my dad a card, sometimes with a small gift and sometimes not. As I got older, it went from a card to a call...until 2006. That was the year my dad died. There were no more cards and no more calls.




When I too became a father, the same routine was repeated. My children gave me cards or little gifts on this special day.



I often think of my dad, Donald Raymond Kerik, Sr. His wisdom, humor, attitude, and his humility have stuck with me,along with all of the things he taught me about life, both big and small. I am in awe of his strength, his courage. It was something I never realized until the end. Throughout his life and mine, I never saw it, or witnessed it, or felt it. He was mild mannered, peaceful, and most often a passive man, until the day we sat in a room with two doctors who told him that the end was near.



He had no fear, he didn't flinch, and he sat there as stoic as one could be in the face of death, in complete control.



He wasn't going to take chemo. "I hear it makes you sick," he said. He didn't want pain killers. "I've never done drugs, and I'm not going to start now."



When he asked how long he would live, the doctor replied, "Without treatment, months... maybe three or four."



With my brother and me in shock, my mother in hysteria, and the doctors a bit stunned, Dad thanked them for their time, stood up and said, "I'm not sure what I intend to do, so I'll discuss it with my wife and sons, and I'll get back to you tomorrow. Now let's get some lunch," and off we went.



I learned more about him on that one day than perhaps any other. He died six months later.



This coming Father's Day will my third away from my own children, and as difficult as this time has been for all of us, it has given me another way to look at Father's Day, and what it means to me.



I've realized it has nothing to do with cards, gifts or calls.



To me, Father's Day is the first time you hear your child say "Daddy." It's their smile in the morning, a kiss on the cheek, the soft touch of their hands. It's running your hands through their hair when they're sleeping and the way they smell after their evening bath. It's the words, "I love you," before bed, and butterflies and Eskimos. It's movies on Saturdays, pancakes on Sundays, and outrageous ice creams at Friendly's. It's watching your oldest succeed and your youngest excel. It's teaching them things that you never knew and giving them more than you ever had. It's your daughter with your freckles, eyes, and attitude, and your son with the same birthmark on his back that you have on yours. It's the joy that comes from being a father, and the heart full of love that you cannot explain.



For me, Father's Day is every day, all year long. Missing the last three years with my children has done nothing more than make me understand that.



I miss my father. He was a good man.



As for my children, Happy Father's Day! You've given me the greatest gift of all.
-BERNARD B. KERIK



You can follow Mr. Kerik at www.twitter.com/bernardkerik

A MUST-READ: SWAGGER by Lisa Bloom

Last year, a friend of mine sent me an article titled "How to Talk to Little Girls" by Lisa Bloom. As a father of two little girls, twelve and nine, I read the article with interest and thought, as many readers have since, what about "How to talk to little boys?"


As fate would have it, that question would stir up enough commotion that Lisa Bloom would answer that question in her newly released book, SWAGGER--10 Urgent Rules for Raising Boys in an Era of Failing Schools, Mass Joblessness, and Thug Culture. If this was a lottery, SWAGGER is the jackpot. If this were baseball, SWAGGER is a World Series winning grand slam. But this is real life, and that being said, SWAGGER is a MUST-READ for every parent, educator and legislator in this country.


After 30 years in law enforcement, commanding two of the largest law enforcement organizations in the United States--the NYPD and the New York City jail system, including Rikers Island--I must admit that for most of my career, I had a one-sided view of the American criminal justice system until I became a federal investigative target and later surrendered to federal prison.


The circumstances surrounding my investigation and my incarceration has contradicted much of what I once believed. There are times when I am filled with bitterness and anger at the system--and at myself--for being here. I am constantly trying to make sense of it all, to seek out and find what good can come of this.


If there has been one benefit to society in my incarceration, it is that I have witnessed what no one with my experience has ever seen before. No one.. There is no site survey, inspection, guided tour, or magic window to look through that allows a federal judge, attorney, prosecutor, member of Congress, or law enforcement or prison administrator to clearly see what it is like to live as an inmate. They do not and cannot see the system's successes or failures or injustices without having lived within the system.


As a father, an American, and someone who has fought for and defended the very freedoms and liberty that I feel are in jeopardy for our young men today, I believe SWAGGER can be one of the most important books of our time.


This no-nonsense, no B.S. guide to raising boys and young men is one of the first books I have read in a long time that's not about the left or right, not about liberals or conservatives, and it is not gauged for the politically correct.


Ms. Bloom clearly outlines the problems with America's educational system, economy, criminal justice system, and thug culture. She then lays out 10 rules for guiding young boys and men into adulthood, rules that can help them get an education, stay out of prison, and become successful members of society.


Do you know that only one in three Baltimore kids graduate from high school? Or, nationwide, that the majority of African American and Hispanic boys drop out of high school? They are destined for doom and failure if things don't change, and Ms. Bloom explains why.



She also raises serious questions as to why there is there no outrage at the glamorization of drug use, drug dealing and violence in the music and entertainment industry. "We're not talking about little racy innuendo; some of the biggest artists today advocate joining the Crips, punching your girlfriend, or murdering gay men," she writes, calling for parents to know and stare down the reality and critically discuss media messages with their boys.



From teaching boys how to respect girls and women, to being ever-critical of all media, to the lost virtue of humility, in this hard-hitting, must-read guide to mentoring, educating and raising healthy sons, Ms. Bloom provides the reader with easy, common sense solutions that can help parents, educators and our political leaders change the future of young boys and men in this country. And, although her book focuses primarily on boys and their upbringing, there is so much you can learn from it when it comes to raising girls as well.



I grew up hard, on the streets of Newark and Paterson, New Jersey. I was abandoned by my mother, a prostitute, who was murdered when I was nine. I dropped out of high school, destined for failure, but the U.S. Army, martial arts, and the right mentoring and guidance from my father, step-mother, and those who cared changed all that. Thirty years later, I was nominated for a presidential cabinet post.



I've seen the boys that Lisa Bloom writes about.. They were on the streets of Newark, Paterson, and New York City, and on Rikers Island. Many of those high school drop outs from Baltimore are right here in this minimum security camp. So too are young men from some of America's most wealthy cities.



Lisa Bloom talks about what happens without the proper mentoring. I can tell you my first hand observations: Once the youngest and most vulnerable are incarcerated, and mix into their new surroundings and the fear of prison dissipates, they begin their "new education" with the older inmates as their teachers. These are grown men who sit around like teenage boys, talking about old times, drugs, guns, cars, jewelry, women and sports.



The young men, newly incarcerated, will learn how to lie, cheat, steal, con, manipulate, and gamble. Their vocabulary diminishes into a profound ghetto slang, their posture changes into an intimidating swagger, a fist bump replaces a handshake, and a grunt replaces "Good morning." They learn more about the drug trade than they did on the outside, and disagreements often result in threats of violence. This is just for starters.



The longer they are here, the more demoralized and hopeless they become. Whatever societal values they may have had upon their arrival now change to institutional ones that lack respect, discipline and responsibility.. The cost of their incarceration is in the billions, but the collateral cost to society is immeasurable.



Our government and criminal justice and prison systems cannot fix this problem alone. It take parents, teachers and educators, and our political leadership.



Lisa Bloom explains who should do what and why, and she talks about the power of parenting, and how mentoring is a must.



In the end, through her questions and research, she finds the answers that every parent needs to hear. The boys tell us all, in their own ways, what they need, what they want, and what would make them be the best they could be.



"Listen to me, Pay attention to me, Get to know me, Spend time with me. And, protect me."



It doesn't seem like too much to ask. And although that, in itself, will not fix everything, it is a great start.



There was something else Ms. Bloom said in her book that could not be more true. "Closing our eyes and hoping for the best won't cut it, not when our boys live in the real world."



Most Americans live in that real world and know and understand these problems, but don't have the courage to acknowledge or admit them. Lisa Bloom does it for us. She outlines the problems as clear as day, and then takes it a step further, by bringing real solutions to the table that don't cost money, will save lives, and keep our kids out of prison.



If you care about your children, SWAGGER is a must-read. If you care about this country, get your educators and political leadership to read it as well.



-BERNARD B. KERIK



You can follow Mr. Kerik at: www.twitter.com/bernardkerik

REMEMBERING OUR HEROES

Although summer doesn't officially begin until the middle of June, to most Americans, Memorial Day and the weekend is the start of summer. It's the first weekend of the year when American families open their swimming pools or head for the beach, plan backyard barbeques, make sure that their landscaping is in tip-top shape, post an American flag on their porch, and if they have time, they just may attend their local Memorial Day Parade. That is what most American families will do.



But there is another group of American families who will be far less focused on summer festivities or the beach or barbeques, and they probably won't have time to go to their local parade.



They will wake up on that Monday morning - Memorial Day - and instead of driving to the beach, they will drive to a cemetery. Instead of standing over a barbeque pit, they will stand over a grave. Instead of landscaping at home, they will remove the weeds and debris from around the tombstone that bears the name of an American hero who gave his or her life defending and protecting this great country. After they've cleaned up this hallowed ground, they will post an American flag as a solemn reminder of who lies there.



There will be no ceremony or guest speaker, and the eerie silence of that cemetery will only be broken by the faint sounds those crying or praying out loud. These mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, family members and friends are not there to celebrate, but to mourn, to honor, to remember, and to reflect on the life of their loved one who gave their all so that the rest of us could live in freedom, freedom that we so often take for granted.



That is what Memorial Day is all about. Remembering our heroes..



On this Memorial Day, let s take a moment to honor and pray for our heroes and their families who have sacrificed so much for all of us. Let s take a moment to thank a veteran for service to our country. Let s take the time to send a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project, the USO, Fisher House, or any organization that supports our veterans.



Most importantly, let us honor these fallen heroes by sowing the seeds of patriotism in our children, teaching them what Memorial Day really stands for and why it is so important to never forget the sacrifices others have made on our behalf. Let's teach them that freedom is never free, and that without the members of our armed forces, here and around the world, this country would not be what it is today.



https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/

http://www.uso.org/donatelanding.aspx

http://www.fisherhouse.org/donate/



On this Memorial Day, I also want to give special thanks to the men and women of the NYPD for their sacrifices on and after 9/11 and to the members of our Armed Forces, the FBI, CIA and local and state law enforcement for standing between good and evil and keeping this country safe from harm.



Godspeed and God Bless you all.



-BERNARD B. KERIK



Follow Mr. Kerik at: www.twitter.com/bernardkerik

DORIAN J. MURRAY

DORIAN J. MURRAY




On April 23, 2012, 8 year old Dorian J. Murray, was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma Stage 4 Cancer, and immediately began treatment at the Hasbro Children's Hospital in Rhode Island. His grandfather, is a life long law enforcement officer in New York State.



On June 16, 2012, his family and friends are holding a fundraiser at the Garrison Volunteer Fire Company, in Garrison, New York. Donations are $15. now and at the door.



Please support Dorian and his family during this difficult time, by sending a check to: Dorian J. Murray, c/o Garrison Volunteer Fire Company, 1616 Route 9, Garrison, New York 10524.



I know his grandfather well enough to know, that were the tables turned, he would do the same thing for me or you.



God Bless You all.

CLAUDE RACINE, SPD - Rest In Peace

It is with great regret that I learned of the passing of Somerville Police Officer Claude Racine.



I came to know him about four years ago when he invited me to his home for a birthday celebration. I showed up unexpectedly, but in time to meet his wonderful family, and his gracious friends. In the short time I knew him, I found him to be a loving husband and father, a patriot, and a dedicated public servant.



Our country and the State of New Jersey has lost a good man, and a great cop. He will be sadly missed.



His family and friends are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.



-BERNARD B. KERIK

A DANGEROUS PROPOSAL

The Nashville-based Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) recently circulated a $250 million proposal to prison officials in 48 states, offering to buy state prison facilities in exchange for various considerations, including a controversial guarantee that the state governments would then have to maintain a 90% occupancy rate for at least 20 years.



As someone who once ran two of the largest law enforcement organizations in the United States - the NYPD and the New York City Department of Correction, including Rikers Island -and is now incarcerated in the federal prison system, I can tell you that this proposal is not only dangerous, but raises serious questions about the integrity and credibility of any company that would propose such a ridiculous idea.



For more than two decades, constitutional scholars, former Attorneys General, federal and state judges, and criminal defense bars have been calling for alternatives to incarceration, revised sentencing guidelines, and a repeal of mandatory minimums. State and federal prison systems could save billions by aggressively addressing these issues, but, at the risk of appearing soft on crime, many government leaders instead choose to skirt the issue.



Now, along comes a private company that says, in essence, "I'll buy your prisons to put some cash in your pocket, for which you will pay me an annual fee per inmate, but you must also guarantee that you will keep those prisons filled to 90% of capacity for the next 20 years."



Any logical person must ask, What happens if you drop below 90% capacity? How much does it then cost the state, and what are the penalties for doing so?



A more important question is this: To what extent will a state go to avoid those penalties?



Will state prosecutors be urged to maximize sentences and use their prosecutorial discretion in unfair ways? Will this mean the elimination of alternatives to incarceration, such as probationary sentences, community service and other life improvement programs that may help reduce recidivism? Will probation and parole officers be forced to violate the rights of former offenders, returning them to prison simply to ensure maximum prison capacity? Will prison officials be forced to overly punish inmates in order to reduce their good time incentives, thereby keeping them in the facilities longer? These are just a few of the many questions that come to mind and show how ludicrous this proposal from CCA actually is.



As a former prison adminstrator, I can say this without reservation: No one in his right mind would agree to guarantee a 90% rate of capacity in a prison facility over a 20 year period, unless he intended to do everything in his power to keep that facility full, which could only be done by violating the Constitution in some way. That threatens the very foundation of our democracy.



If state prison administrators need to cut costs, I suggest they follow the advice of Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, former Attorneys General Richard Thornburgh and Edwin Meese III, and others, by addressing the sentencing guidelines and mandatory minimums.



First time, non-violent offenders should be considered for alternatives to incarceration, where they receive community service, probationary sentences, and home confinement, which would give them the ability to work, pay taxes and take care of their families. This approach allows them to be punished while still being able to give back to society and saves American taxpayers billions of dollars.



The enhancement of good time incentives for inmates displaying good behavior could be another enormous cost savings, and would be a blessing for prison administrators, by reducing inmate-on-inmate violence and giving facility commanders much more control over inmates in their custody. Inmates who follow the rules get to return to their families sooner, and inmates who misbehave, don't. The cost savings from simply enhancing good time incentives could also be in the billions.



There are endless ways to reduce prison budgets, while still administering punishment, deterring those who need it, and protecting society from dangerous individuals. State legislators must get smart on crime and realize that there is an extremely high number of inmates in state prison systems who are not low life miscreants and could be better held accountable for their misdeeds by alternatives to incarceration.



With creative management, accountability, and reforms, we can reduce criminal justice spending in prisons, without trampling on the Constitution of the United States or putting Americans at greater risk.



Promising to keep prisons loaded to 90% capacity over 20 years for a quick buck is irresponsible, dangerous, and un-American.



-BERNARD B. KERIK

LET RAY KELLY DO HIS JOB

For the past several weeks, politicians, members of the media, and community activists have made Raymond Kelly, New York City's Police Commissioner, the target of scathing criticism over the NYPD's intelligence and surveillance operations that have principally focused on publicly accessed information relating to Muslims and Muslim communities. He's been accused of racial profiling and infringing on the privacy rights of the general public, and in a strange way, he has been made out to be some sort of monster for doing his job.



Based on all reports, like it or not, Kelly is operating within the law and doing so for good reason. No one knows the ramifications of failed intelligence--or not enough intelligence--better than the men and women of the NYPD. They do not have to be reminded that New York City continues to be a primary target for members of Al-Qaeda and radical Islamic extremists.



The FBI, CIA and Department of Homeland Security are working around the clock to protect our country and our borders. But let's not forget, New York City is in a league of its own. Ray Kelly may get some help from the federal government, but at the end of the day, the safety and security of New York City is his responsibility. The buck stops with him. If, God forbid, things go bad, those same critics today would be calling for his head. This is wrong...dead wrong!



Let Ray Kelly do his job and protect the people of New York. For those who have difficulty letting him do so, take a walk down Memory Lane dating back to September 11, 2001. Reflect on every close call that we've had since, every thwarted attack on our city. Intelligence and surveillance often saves day. Unless or until Ray Kelly does something outside the law, let him do his job to protect the people of New York.



We will all be a lot better off for it.
 
 
Bernard B. Kerik

JEFFREY ZASLOW - REST IN PEACE

Jeffrey Zaslow was a columnist for The Wall Street Journal, and a New York Times best selling author. He co-wrote The Last Lecture with Randy Pausch who later died of cancer, and most recently wrote The Magic Room, A Story About the Love We Wish for our Daughters.



On February 10, at 53, his life ended in a tragic car accident, leaving behind his wife Sherry, and three daughters, Jordan, Alex, and Eden.



In reading the books he has written, you come to realize that he was a brilliant man and a wonderful story teller, but more than anything, a loving and caring husband and father.



In The Magic Room which was dedicated to Jordan, Alex, and Eden, he talks about his love for them, and as someone who loves his children as I do, I could relate to every word. He wrote, "My three daughters are now ages twenty-one, nineteen, and fifteen, and I know they will need love in their lives - from me, my wife, each other, and someday I hope, from their husbands and children."



Every parent can learn from this book, especially two of life's most important lessons: Never take life for granted, and always remember to say to your children, "I love you." Jeffrey Zaslow knew and understood this, and in leaving our world for another, he left behind The Magic Room, not only for us to share, but as an eternal reminder to his daughters of the unconditional love he had for each of them. All children should be so lucky.



May he rest in peace, and my God Bless the family he left behind.



-BERNARD B. KERIK

RICHARD SHEIRER - Rest In Peace

On the morning of September 11, 2001, while the entire nation watched the horrific events unfold in New York City, Richie Sheirer, the Director of the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management, was on the scene within minutes, assisting in the rescue and evacuation of the Twin Towers. In the days, weeks and months after, he was a pillar of strength for many. For me, he was there whenever I needed him, always with the answer and always with a smile. He was a big man with a bigger heart, and for anyone who knew him, you knew that he gave our city and our country his all.


Today, we lost a piece of our country's history, and we lost a good, sweet and gentle man. He was one of a kind, and he was one of the best. He was a hero, in every sense of the word, and he was a good friend.



My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. He will be truly missed.



May he rest in peace, and may God Bless his family always.



-BERNARD B. KERIK

CHRISTMAS 2011

They say that you never know who your true friends are until you've been hit with tragedy and you really need their support. Over the past several years, I have learned the hard way that there is nothing more true. Hala and I have been blessed with a loving and caring family and many steadfast friends and supporters.



This Christmas and holiday season, on behalf of my entire family, I want to say thank you to all of them. Thank you for your notes, letters, books and cards, and most importantly, thank you for being there for my family when I could not be.



As horrible as this has been for all of us, in some strange way, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to see what I have over the past several years. Having run two of the largest law enforcement organizations in the world with unparalleled success and achievement, my own incarceration has contradicted much of what I once believed about the federal criminal justice and prison system. There is no tour you can take, no inspection you can do, no crystal ball you can look into to see the system's successes, flaws or failures. They can only be seen from within. For someone who knows how the system is supposed to work, and what it is supposed to accomplish, it has been more than an eye opening experience, one that I will never forget and will use to the best of my ability to bring about much-needed reform once I am released.



Until then, I spend my days writing, exercising, reading, and teaching.



I've lost sixty to seventy pounds since October 2009. Although I have always tried to stay fit and in shape, nothing comes close to this, at least since I was in my 30s. Three days a week, it's push ups...on a good day 800 - 1,000, and on a bad day, 500 - 600. Not bad, considering I started out at 50. On the opposite days, it's squats, sprints and stairs.



I've read more books since I've been here than I have in my entire life, two a week, sometimes three, unless it's one of those big beefy ones like the biographies on Steve Jobs, Arial Sharon, or Condoleezza Rice. I've read just about every book written on our criminal justice system. Although many of these books are not normally read by the general public, I'd urge every American to read Angela J. Davis' Arbitrary Justice, Andrew Napolitano's Constitutional Chaos, Alan Elsner's Gates of Injustice; Tyranny of Good Intentions, by Roberts and Stratton; and Orange is the New Black, by Piper Kerman, a brilliant woman who captured the realities of living within the federal prison system for a year.



When you're feeling down and out, or you think you've had a rough day, there are two books you should read that will definitely put things back into perspective: Night, by Eli Weisel and Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankel. I'm convinced that these two men are living examples of the old saying, "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." For me, they have given me strength and been some of my greatest inspiration.



The class I teach here is a Life Lessons class in which I've outlined much of what I've learned throughout my lifetime: my successes and failures, rights and wrongs, goods and bads, and just about life itself. For me, the most important part of this class is trying to make sure that the men I teach will never return to prison. I do my best to help them overcome the obstacles they now must face, such as living with the life-long label of being a convicted felon. Unfortunately, the system not only degrades and demoralizes many of these men, but the convicted felon label destroys their chances for real employment or a full second chance in life. I help them know the world they will face upon release so that they will not be overtaken by depression, cynicism and hopelessness.



There are bad people that belong in prison and behind bars, some longer than others. For those that pose the greatest danger and threat to society, perhaps forever. However, many of the men that I have met here, and thousands more in the system, are non-violent first-time offenders, who pose no threat to society at all. Yet they are being imprisoned for years on end when they could be punished by alternatives to incarceration such as probationary sentences, fines, penalties, community service, and home confinement or house arrest. In doing so, they could be working, paying taxes, taking care of their families and paying their fines and restitution. The American taxpayer would save the burden of the $28,000 per year per inmate for their imprisonment but, more importantly, would reap the reward of their taxable income and economic spending, which is billions of dollars over the reported cost of incarceration



I serve my time along with, for example, a 60 year old attorney, serving five years on an immigration violation, a 22 year old U.S. Marine serving three years for selling his own night vision goggles on eBay, a 55 year old businessman serving seven and a half years on an SEC violation, a 33 old bank vice president who sent an email he shouldn't have and is serving 36 months, and a 19 year old kid from D.C. serving 10 years for a low level drug offense. They are all non-violent, first-time offenders the system is destroying.



In our attempt not to look "soft on crime," prosecutors are insisting on maximum prison sentences. Judges bound by mandatory minimums and sentencing guidelines, then impose these draconian sentences on non-violent first time offenders. Justice, society, the economy and most important their children and families would quite often be better served by an alternative to incarceration. As I said, it's been an eye-opening experience.



Back at home, Celine, at 11 years old now, is 5'9". Another two inches, and she'll be taller than me. Angelina, age 9, has had an amazing growth spurt as well, but hopefully she keeps it under 5'10", so I don't feel like I'm shrinking. Both of them are doing quite well in school (they have their mother's brains), and are as beautiful on the inside as out.



Angelina is starring in her school's Christmas play, Beauty and the Beast, with a solo singing spot. Her quick wit and intelligence is a bit scary for a 9 year old. Sometimes I feel like I'm dealing with an adult. In a recent note she sent me, she said, "I hope this is the last Christmas at the stink bug farm," and for a moment I had to wonder what she was talking about. Then it dawned on me. At the end of last summer there was a major problem here in Maryland with stink bugs, so every time she would come visit, she'd be upset by our unwanted company. Thus, the "stink bug farm." Not only is she quick witted, she has an unbelievable memory!



Celine recently received her school's Patriot of the Month Award, chosen by her teachers for excellence in character. Last year at her prior school, she ended the year receiving the Matt Larson Award, named in honor and memory of Mathew James Larson, who at 7 years old, lost a five year battle with brain and spinal tumors. The award's recipient is chosen by teachers and parents for the one child in the school who reflects the principles by which Matt lived his life - overcoming adversity while doing all he could for others.



I couldn't be more proud of both of the girls, and there is nothing that pains me more than not being there for them when they have really needed me.



The past year has been difficult for both of them...they lost a beloved uncle who died unexpectedly and way too young at 50; and then Duke, one of our German Shepherds, died as well. Not being there then, or for their school plays, sporting events, parent-teacher conferences, Back to School nights and things like that has been my greatest punishment.



For any father who loves his children as I do mine, this time is torture. Even with the support group that Hala and I have around them that others may not have, the nightmare of this time and place haunts them more than anyone would know. Even me. I had no idea.



After a recent visit to see me, Celine spoke to a family friend and told her the pain she felt watching other children in the visiting room who were visiting their parents in prison. She said she wanted to write a book about her experience, so that should could help others. When I first learned of her conversation and her desire to write a book, I was pleased by her intent, but I've got to admit, my pleasure was short-lived when I heard what she wanted to title the book and why: "Don't Forget About Us," a title she chose because she believes judges and others don't really care about the children who are left behind. Her torment is heart wrenching for me, and that is coming from a little girl who is blessed with an enormous family and endless friends. If that is how she feels, what about those children who aren't so lucky?



My son, Joe, has had his ups and downs this last year as well, but nothing was as hard as losing one of his closest friends, Newark Detective Michael Morgan, who was shot and killed recently during an armed robbery. I've been there and know that feeling. In the aftermath of Mike's death, I tried to talk Joe into considering another place to work other than Newark, and he wouldn't hear of it. Newark, Jersey City or New York City... those are the only places he said he'd be happy. I've been there too, so for now, I guess I'll just keep my mouth shut and continue to pray for his safety and those who work with him.



This past year has been one of the most difficult in my lifetime, but it's not because of what most people would think. What has been most stressful for me is not being home when I was needed, not knowing what is happening, not having the ability to tuck in the girls or kiss them good night and being there when something goes wrong. However, I, unlike many men in my circumstance, have had a rock to lean on and someone to pick up the slack. Hala has been like Wonder Woman, holding down the fort with grace and unbelievable strength. Our children have been blessed with a mother who could not be better than the one they have and things would be unbearable without her.



The strength of every marriage is tested by circumstances, some of which we can control, and some of which we cannot. Mine has been tested over and over again, much of which has been my own fault. In the past many months, I have witnessed countless numbers of wives say goodbye to their husbands, or just disappear. It has ripped many of these men to shreds, but more so, it has helped me understand how lucky I am. I have been blessed with a wife who not only has stood by me, but has shined bright through our darkest times. To her, I owe my all.



With each passing day, I grow more thankful for the life I've had, my children, my wife, and for our friends, our family and our supporters. This experience has caused me to find the words to express my love and appreciation all the more. My best days here are when Hala, the girls and Joe come to visit, as well as other family and friends. One of my most memorable days this last year was May 1st, when my friend Geraldo Rivera broke the news that President Barack Obama was about to announce the capture and death of Osama Bin Laden. Thank God for Seal Team Six and the United States of America.



Believe it or not, in a very profound way, I thank God for letting me see what I have seen from here, and meet many of the men I have met in the past 20 months. It has changed me now and forever...and for the better.



Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you. And on behalf of my entire family, I thank you for your thoughts, prayers and support. You mean more to us than you will ever know. As we celebrate the holiday season, please join me in remembering our troops returning from Iraq as well as those in Afghanistan and around the globe. And lastly, as always, my regards, thoughts and prayers are with the men and women of the NYPD, NYDOC, and Newark Police Department.



May God richly bless you all.





-BERNARD B. KERIK





Mr. Kerik can be followed on twitter at: www.twitter.com/bernardkerik

POLICE OFFICER MICHAEL MORGAN

Early this morning, off duty Newark Police Officer Michael Morgan was shot and killed in Paterson, New Jersey. He was a good friend of my son Joseph and a great cop. It is a terrible loss for Newark, society as a whole, and most importantly, his loving family. May he rest in peace, may God Bless his family, and may the Archangel Saint Michael watch over the colleagues he left behind. -BERNARD B. KERIK

THE IMBALANCE OF JUSTICE

The Imbalance of Justice

What happens when the scales of justice tip so far in the wrong direction that society begins to lose sight of our Founding Fathers' intended goal of justice? Have we become a society more concerned with money than humanity? How much is a human life really worth in the United States today?

Throughout my career, I have traveled to other parts of the world where life is cheap, but I never thought I'd see a day where, in this country, we'd place more value on a dollar than life itself.

Consider this:

In 2005, L. Dennis Kozlowski, the former chief executive of Tyco International Ltd., was found guilty of grand larceny, conspiracy and securities fraud, stemming from a compensation package and bonuses he received as Tyco's chief executive. By all accounts he was an aggressive and successful corporate executive who helped make Tyco one of the most successful companies in the world, but one who also dared to flaunt his fortune and compensation package, one of the highest of any CEO in the country.

He did not commit an act of violence, he was not a pedophile, he did not rob, rape, or viciously assault or murder anyone, yet his conviction resulted in a sentence of 8 1/3 - 25 years in prison. He was also ordered to pay $90 million in restitution to his former employer and a $70 million fine, which according to published reports, he has already satisfied.

The sad reality is that given his age today, 64, Kozlowski was given a death sentence despite being a first time, non-violent offender, for which he has already paid nearly $160 million in fines and restitution. Is that justice?

Compare that to this:

On October 18, 2008, an 18 year old teenager by the name of Christopher Robinson, who was being held on Rikers Island pending criminal charges, was beaten to death by other inmates.

According to the Bronx District Attorney's Office, a three year investigation revealed that two New York City Correction Officers, Michael McKie and Khalid Nelson, were running a secret, sadistic society called "The Program" on Rikers, that encouraged and allowed a brutal squad of inmates, dubbed "The Team," to beat and extort other prisoners.

Robinson was allegedly singled out and murdered - savagely beaten to death - because he refused to go along with "The Program."

Five inmates have since pled guilty for their roles in Robinson's brutal killing and received sentences ranging up to 10 years in prison... substantially less than Tyco CEO Kozlowski.

To make matters worse, last Thursday former correction officers Michael McKie and Khalid Nelson pled guilty in a Bronx courtroom for their role in running "The Program," and allowing this brutal and sadistic group of inmates to savagely beat and extort the other inmates. Their sentence: Nelson will receive one year, and McKie will receive two years in prison.

These two men were sworn to protect the inmates in their custody, yet endangered their lives, and the lives of every correction officer in their facility by turning a blind eye to this brutal and barbaric group of inmates who acted as predators on the weak. Between the two of them, they were sentenced to only three years in prison for their heinous, outrageous and brutal conduct.

Dennis Kozlowski probably made more money than he should have and did things that he should not have done for which he should have been punished. However, he has already spent five years in prison and paid back nearly $160 million in fines and restitution. He still faces another 20 years in prison for a first time non-violent offense, yet those responsible for Robinson's brutal and savage killing will serve less than a 10 year term, and the two public servants who ran "The Program" will serve less than three years between them.

The imbalance in our criminal justice system is glaring. There are serious questions about crime, punishment, justification and fairness. However, for this moment in time, there's only one question that society should be concerned with: Where is the real justice for Christopher Robinson and his family?

23 Years Ago

23 YEARS AGO Yesterday
On October 18, 1988, in two separate incidents on the same evening, two New York City Police Officers were murdered; Chris Hoban - 26, was shot and killed during a narcotics undercover operation, and Michael Buczek - 24, was shot and killed when he attempted to stop a drug dealer in Washington Heights. Today, I think of them and the families they left behind, and their heroic colleagues in Manhattan North Narcotics and the 34th Precinct. May God Bless them all.

-BERNARD B. KERIK.... Follow Mr. Kerik at: www.twitter.com/bernardkerik

Disgusting Political Attack Shows Cowardice

At 8:41 a.m. on September 11, 2011, just five minutes before most of the nation was prepared to stand in silence at the exact time the north tower of the World Trade Center was attacked ten years earlier, Paul Krugman, a columnist for the New York Times, thought not of those lost on that day nor the families they left behind nor the New York City first responders who put their lives on the line in one of the greatest rescue and evacuation missions in our country's history nor the ceremonies around the country that were about to take place.



When the rest of the country, Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, were all coming together to remember one of the darkest days in our nation's history, Mr. Krugman felt it was the perfect time to launch a cowardly smear campaign and political attack on those who were there in positions of leadership on September 11, 2001, and who did their best to get our country through those extremely difficult times.



After reading the words he posted on his blog, The Conscience of a Liberal, I feel compelled to respond.



In the aftermath of the worst terrorist attack in world history, this country did unite in every walk of life, in every political arena and in every community in this country. There was no "wedge issue" or division or disagreement about anything. The American people came together as one, as they should have, with incredible resilience and camaraderie. I'm not sure where Mr. Krugman was hiding at the time, but his own paper and employer wrote all about it.



As for President George W. Bush, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, or me racing to "cash in on the horror," I can only assume that relates to writing a book, promoting that book or speaking about the events of that day or its aftermath--no different than Mr. Krugman's colleagues at the New York Times. They used information they acquired through their investigative reporting to publish books, give media interviews and talks specifically about that day and its aftermath.



Did they race to cash in? Personally, I don't think so. I think their--and all our stories--need to be told...as many of them as possible.



Did Mr. Krugman attacked his own colleagues for "cashing in?" Did he throw a tantrum when former President Bill Clinton published his book or the Mayor of New Orleans Ray Nagin published his or when they gave speeches relating to their time in office? I'd bet not.



As Americans, we have a duty to tell the story and history of that day.



When the second jet airliner struck the south tower, I was there, dodging debris from the plane and building. When the south tower collapsed, Mayor Giuliani, me, and members of our staffs were a block away, trapped in a building. In dealing with the rescue, recovery and investigation, we all did the best we could at the time, which by all accounts, like it or not, was far better than the handling of others crises around the world, especially considering that we had no warning of what was about to come.



In the past ten years, Mr. Krugman and others like him who didn't have to deal with the death, destruction and devastation, and the rebuilding of a shattered city, have felt compelled to constantly attack those of us who did. Then, to make matters worse, on this 9/11, ten years later, when the entire country was once again united in memory of those we lost and that horrendous day, Mr. Krugman didn't have the common courtesy, decency and patriotism to unite. He chose instead to rant, and his rant was disgusting.



There's something else Mr. Krugman should know:



In 2001, I assisted in the development of a photo book about the first responders on 9/11. The proceeds of that book went to the widows and children of members of the NYPD and FDNY who died in the line of duty. The book raised more than $550,000 that was given to the charity. Between 2002-2004, I was paid $70,000 for my part in putting that book together. The media had a field day when this came to light. However, what they also knew, but refused to publish, was this: Between 2002 and 2004, my wife and I gave that much, plus another $50,000, to charities relating to the first responders of 9/11, the U.S. Military, and medical aid for Iraqi children and Coptic orphans. Included in the $120,000 we gave was $50,000 to the New York City PBA Widows and Orphans Fund, $10,000 to the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation, and $5,000 to the FDNY Fire Safety Education Fund.



Something Krugman and almost no one else has ever known was that, within a few days after the attack, when I realized the 23 police officers who worked for me were probably dead, out of concern for their families' well being, I contacted a personal friend of mine in an attempt to raise money for them. Three days later, I was able to present each of those families with a check for $10,000, for a total of $230,000. I did so with no fanfare, no media hype, and no benefit to me or my family or my staff.



And then between 2001 and 2004, Mayor Giuliani and members of his cabinet, including me, created the Twin Towers Fund, a charity for the families and those first responders who were lost. In just under three years, we personally raised more than $216 million that was given to 600 families. I never took a dime for my work in the fund, and in fact, my wife and I contributed $20,000 to the fund in 2002.



Mr. Krugman, how much money did you personally raise for the families of the victims who perished on 9/11? I'm just curious to know.



Lastly, the "fake hero" comment in Mr. Krugman's blog was a combination of ignorance and childish immaturity. And although I don't need to defend my own career and heroics, established long before 9/11, I do feel obligated to respond to his stupidity concerning the others, given that I saw them in action.



When the entire nation was stunned and needed inspiration and leadership with the courage, compassion and dignity to get this country back on its feet, George W. Bush, George Pataki, Rudy Giuliani, Tom Von Essen and others did just that. You cannot change history or erase reality. Stop trying to politicize that moment in time. None of us were perfect, but we gave it our all. Mr. Krugman can write all the nasty political attack columns he wants, but they will never change the horrors of that day, the enemy who attacked us, the rescue and response that followed, and the work that was done by those of us who were there to help our city, state and country.



Now, ten years later, Mr. Krugman wrote that the "memory of 9/11 was irrevocably poisoned; it has become an occasion of shame."



The real shame, sir, is that you still hold a position with the New York Times. You, and those like you with your cowardly poison pens, are a disgrace to your profession, your newspaper, and to the country that provides you the very freedom that allows you to spew your political garbage.

A THANK YOU FROM CELINE, MY DAUGHTER

Today is my 56th birthday, and I will share the day with my wife Hala, and my youngest daughters, Celine and Angelina. They are three of the greatest gifts God has given me.

For many years we have told Celine about a tragic story that ultimately had a happy ending, thanks to the men and women in the FDNY and NYPD, including a Sergeant John Coughlin, of the NYPD's Emergency Response Unit.


Now that Celine is old enough to understand the true meaning of courage and heroism, I recently told her something that I had kept from her for years....the rest of the story, as they say. She responded with this letter:

Dear Mrs. Coughlin,


On August 25, 2000, a woman in the Bronx called 911 for help because her six month old baby was choking and could barely breathe. The police and fire department officers came to their apartment, and when the baby's father, who was working found out, he rushed home. When he arrived at his apartment, he saw all the police and emergency vehicles and was afraid of what happened.


As he came in the door, the first thing he saw was his wife crying hysterically, but then he saw a big policeman, Sergeant John Coughlin of the NYPD, holding the baby in his arms over his head, and the baby was laughing so hard, and she was ok.


Well, that baby was me. My name is Celine Kerik, and my father was the police commissioner at the time, Bernard Kerik.


Today I am 11 years old, and my mother and father have told me that story many many times, but what I had not known until now is that Sgt. John Coughlin, your husband, died when the Twin Towers came crashing down on top of him on September 11, 2001.


After learning and understanding what happened, and since it will be 10 years ago since he died, I wanted to write you this letter.


My father always says he was a hero for all of New York City and the country, and he called him a Teddy Bear with a big heart. But for me, he is my hero for helping keep me alive, and I just wanted to thank him.


My Uncle Besim recently died, and my dad said it was because God needs lots of angels in heaven. I'm sure Mr. Coughlin is one of them. God Bless him, and you and your daughters too.

Sincerely,

CELINE C. KERIK



Today, we celebrated not just my birthday but Celine's life being saved as well. And we celebrated the first responders and all who serve our country. Please pray for them, Sgt. John Coughlin and his family, and all who have put their lives on the line for the people of the United States of America.

WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS FLAG

In the early morning hours of September 12, 2001, Ground Zero looked like a war zone. The towers were gone, the surrounding buildings burnt out and destroyed, and smoke and ash were everywhere. Fires lit the darkness in recesses where debris and rubble had ignited.

Stunned by the death and devastation on this battlefield, turned hallowed ground, an NYPD sergeant and detective stood there, scanning the site. Suddenly, something caught their eye: an American flag.

It was wrapped around a contorted street light, not far from the plaza of the World Trade Center where it had flown proudly the day before. Tattered and torn, this American flag had survived the worst terror attack in world history.

As the sergeant stared at the flag, he realized it was upside down...the international signal for distress. His blood boiled at the thought. Our city and country had been hit and hit hard, but we were not in distress. Our country had been hurt and hurt bad, but we would survive.

With the help of firemen and military personnel nearby, they retrieved the flag. Carefully, as they had been taught, the soldiers folded it, and handed it to my men. Then standing in silence, they saluted that flag.

I knew nothing of this until hours later that morning when I walked into my office. I was hit by a strong smell of smoke. When I looked around to see why, I noticed a folded flag sitting on the corner of my desk. There was a note with it that read:

“Boss... this is the flag that flew in front of the WTC at Church Street. It was blown off the pole and was tangled on the street light. We as well as some firefighters and soldiers recovered it. The soldiers folded it. In Israel, you said that we can't back down to terrorism. You are right. You lead, and we will follow."

I was overcome by their words, but more so at the sight of the flag sitting there. Less than 24 hours ago, this incredible symbol of freedom and democracy had flown proudly in front of two of the largest buildings in the world. On a clear, blue sky morning, those buildings and thousands working inside them were attacked and destroyed by an enemy who despised the very freedoms that flag represented.

I thought of its history, and the men and women who had fought for, and died, defending it. I thought of the first responders who gave their lives the day before while serving the people of New York City.

Now sitting silent and still on my desk, that flag's symbolism seemed more powerful and mighty than ever. It inspired the men who retrieved it, me, and every person who walked into my office. Some people kissed it. Some touched it. Others simply stared at it or nodded in respect.

This symbol of our country's birth and resilience, once again, as in past battles, inspired, moved and strengthened our resolve. It brought our political leaders together and created unity in our country. All across America, flags heralded this truth: Good will prevail over evil.

Today, in these truly trying times, I think back to those moments and that flag.

In recent days, we have suffered a tremendous loss of 30 of this nation's greatest warriors, and we have witnessed historic economic setbacks and political polarization. Gloom and doom permeates our headlines and airwaves. This is not a time to provoke fear or lose confidence in our nation's resilience and spirit. This is not a time for pessimism, or throwing in the towel, or writing us off as a second rate nation.

This is not the time to give in or give up!!!

This is a time for unity, optimism, and national support for our country and that flag. It is a time for a call to action...just as in the aftermath of the attacks on our country. It is a time we must stand together, as one nation, under God and indivisible. Most important, it is a time to reflect and learn from that flag…learn from the men and women who died, fighting for and defending it, and from the strength of the families they left behind. May we learn from the flag that was ripped from its stand, but whose spirit and symbolism could not be destroyed.

In these trying times and when we need it most, stand up and honor that flag with the strength, unity, courage and conviction that it has symbolized for us for more than 230 years. We owe it to our children, and their children, as well. Most important, we owe it to that flag and the country it represents.

God Bless the USA.

Bernard B. Kerik

This is a Time for Unity - Not Politics

The past 72 hours have been saturated with the news of the death of 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden. I, for one, could not be happier.

Yet, what should be a time of pride, praise and unity for the entire country has quickly become a soap box for many of President Barack Obama's critics. They have tried their best to find fault in every decision and move he has made, right down to nit-picking, word for word, the announcement of Bin Laden's death.

If the president left office in 2012 or 2016, and Bin Laden had not yet been captured or killed, it would surely be labeled his fault. Why can't he now get the credit he is due?

By all accounts, it was the President who decided and ordered the high-risk ground assault versus a less risky aerial strike on the terrorists' compound. A near-flawless operation resulted.

But that is not enough for Obama's critics. Should we have captured or killed Bin Laden? Disposed of the body or not? What did the president know and when?

Let me ask this: Who really cares?

If the operation had failed, if there were U.S. casualties, if Bin Laden had gotten away, then the President's critics could rightfully have a field day, but this entire operation was methodical, well-executed, and close to miraculous... without one U.S. casualty.

To my fellow Republicans and conservatives I say: Stop whining and give the President the credit he deserves. A better outcome happens only in the movies.

And as for those who believe killing Bin Laden may incite Al-Qaeda and their followers, remember they are already filled with anger and hatred against us. Let's not forget that on September 11, 2001, we were inciting no one and yet suffered the worst terror attack in world history. As for the burial at sea, I personally believe it was ingenious. I was in Iraq when Saddam Hussein's sons, Uday and Qusay, were killed. I recall the many issues we had to deal with then. I also recall the problems with the bodies of Saddam Hussein and Abu Masab Al-Zarkowi, Iraq's leading terrorist whose body was returned to his hometown of Zarka, Jordan.

For Bin Laden, there will be no shrines and no martyrdom rallying points.

There are times for politics and debates and there are not. This is a time for unity and honor. Save the negativity for another time.

For the families and friends of those who perished on 9/11, for the first responders who came to the rescue - 400 who died doing their job - for our men and women in the Armed Forces who for the past 10 years have been fighting this global war on terror, and for the heroes in the U.S. Navy Seals who pulled off one of the greatest missions in our country's history, let us put politics aside.

Let us thank God that good has prevailed over evil and that President Barack Obama made the decisions he did.

On September 14, 2001, President George W. Bush came to Ground Zero, shook my hand and told me that America would bring those to justice that were responsible for the attacks on our country. Tomorrow, President Barack Obama will go to Ground Zero to remind the world that America has kept its promise. I, for one, will never forget him and this momentous event just as I will never forget those we lost.

-BERNARD B. KERIK

A Great Day to be an American

As one who stood beneath the building and watched the second aircraft slam through Tower II of the World Trade Center, and was there when it collapsed, hearing President Barack Obama announce to the world that Osama Bin Ladin was dead, was joyous, emotional and overwhelming. God Bless our president, the intelligence and special operations personnel that carried out this mission, and God Bless America. -BERNARD B. KERIK