Morre Bernard Kerik, chefe da Polícia de Nova York durante o 11/9, aos 69 anos

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Bernard Kerik, que liderou o Departamento de Polícia de Nova York durante os ataques terroristas de 11 de setembro, morreu na quinta-feira (29/5) aos 69 anos.

O policial tornou-se um rosto familiar para os americanos nos dias seguidos ao ataque às torres gêmeas do World Trade Center, perpetrado em 2001 pelos sequestradores de Osama bin Laden em aviões comerciais.

De porte robusto e temperamento linha-dura, Kerik ajudou o então prefeito Rudy Giuliani a conduzir Nova York durante a crise.

Na quinta-feira, o diretor do FBI, Kash Patel, anunciou sua morte na rede social X, "após uma batalha particular contra a doença", sem fornecer detalhes.

Patel chamou Kerik de "guerreiro, patriota e um dos servidores públicos mais corajosos que este país já conheceu".

Kerik era delegado de polícia há menos de um ano quando sua vida e carreira deram um giro de 180 graus devido aos ataques de 11 de setembro, que mataram quase 2.750 pessoas, incluindo 23 policiais da cidade de Nova York.

(FILES) This October 3, 2003, file photo shows former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik (R), with US President George W. Bush (L), addressing the media on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC. Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik died on May 29, 2025 at the age of 69. In a post on social media, FBI Director Kash Patel said Kerik ed away on Thursday after a private battle with an illness. Kerik was former New York City Mayor Rudy Giulianis commissioner from 2000 to 2001, and served during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Photo by Manny CENETA / AFP) AFP
(L-R) John Coale, Chuck Zito, attorney Alan Dershowitz, former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, US Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO), and Kash Patel listen as Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he arrives in court during his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 20, 2024 in New York City. Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik died on May 29, 2025 at the age of 69. In a post on social media, FBI Director Kash Patel said Kerik ed away on Thursday after a private battle with an illness. Kerik was former New York City Mayor Rudy Giulianis commissioner from 2000 to 2001, and served during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Photo by POOL / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP) AFP
Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik and former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani arrive for the funeral of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller at St. Rose of Lima R.C. Church on March 30, 2024 in Massapequa, New York. Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik died on May 29, 2025 at the age of 69. In a post on social media, FBI Director Kash Patel said Kerik ed away on Thursday after a private battle with an illness. Kerik was former New York City Mayor Rudy Giulianis commissioner from 2000 to 2001, and served during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP) AFP

(FILES) Bernard Kerik, former police comissioner of New York City (L), holds the hand of US President George W. Bush in a victory pose as Bush is introduced 18 October 2004 to a crowd of ers at the Evesham Recreation Center in Marlton, New Jersey. Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik died on May 29, 2025 at the age of 69. In a post on social media, FBI Director Kash Patel said Kerik ed away on Thursday after a private battle with an illness. Kerik was former New York City Mayor Rudy Giulianis commissioner from 2000 to 2001, and served during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Photo by Paul J. RICHARDS / AFP) AFP
(FILES) Former Commissioner of the New York Police Department Bernard Kerik attends a remembrance ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the terror attack on the World Trade Center, in New York City on September 11, 2023. Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik died on May 29, 2025 at the age of 69. In a post on social media, FBI Director Kash Patel said Kerik ed away on Thursday after a private battle with an illness. Kerik was former New York City Mayor Rudy Giulianis commissioner from 2000 to 2001, and served during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) AFP

Quando o segundo mandato de Giuliani terminou, logo após o ataque, Kerik também deixou o cargo, mantendo sua amizade e lealdade profissional de décadas.

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Kerik permaneceu ativo na política do Partido Republicano e, em 2003, participou de uma missão no Iraque para treinar forças militares do ex-presidente George W. Bush.

Enfrentou problemas judiciais ao se declarar culpado, em 2009, de acusações criminais, incluindo fraude fiscal.

Ele itiu ter aceitado, em troca de contratos públicos, US$ 255 mil (RS 1,44 bilhão) em reformas em seu apartamento de uma construtora suspeita de ligações com a máfia.

Sua declaração o ajudou a evitar uma pena máxima de até 61 anos de prisão, condenado a quatro anos até ser liberto em 2013.

Kerik recebeu o perdão presidencial em 2020, durante o primeiro mandato do magnata republicano Donald Trump.

Mais tarde, uniu-se a Giuliani para investigar denúncias de suposta fraude eleitoral após a derrota de Trump em 2020, que logo foram rejeitadas.

Também foi um dos convocados ao Congresso para responder às acusações de conspiração para alterar os resultados das eleições durante o ataque ao Capitólio em 6 de janeiro de 2021.