Profile of Bernard Kerik
From Mary Snow
CNN
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Bernard Kerik, who rose up the ranks from a New York City street cop to a cabinet appointee, can be summed up in a word by those who know him: Tough.
His successor, New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, says "I think he's aggressive, I think he's determined and I think those are two good things to have in that position."
A high school dropout, Kerik served in the military before realizing his long time dream of joining the NYPD.
Times Square was one of his first beats when he joined the force in 1986.
Today, a wish of luck from among the ranks.
"I'm sure he'll do a great job. We worked together in Midtown South and I wish him well," said one former colleague.
Times Square was rough, and so was Kerik's upbringing.
In a 2001 autobiography, he revealed that his mother had abandoned him, and that she was a prostitute who may have been murdered by a pimp.
"It was -- it was difficult. It was hard," Kerik said of writing the book. "You know, it was heart wrenching to go back and hear things that I -- I never knew, learned things that I was unaware of."
Growing up in New Jersey, Kerik credits his father with saving his life.
Another influential man in his life has been Rudy Giuliani.
Kerik was by Giuliani's side as police commissioner on September 11, 2001. And his career has been closely tied to the former mayor whom he met while serving as a driver during one of Giuliani's campaigns.
"You can't overstate the allegiance that Bernie Kerik has to Rudy Giuliani. Rudy has given Bernard Kerik every major job that Kerik has ever had," says Andrew Kurtzman, author of "Rudy Giuliani: Emperor of the City."
Currently, Kerik works at Giuliani's private consulting firm.
The close ties have sparked criticism in New York.
Newsday ran a column calling Kerik's nomination a "ticking time bomb," and calling Kerik an energetic exploiter of the September 11 tragedy.
Reporters asked Giuliani if he had spoken to President Bush on behalf of Kerik.
He didn't answer that question, but said that he is a strong supporter of Kerik and his opinion is well known.
He was also asked if he had been selected for the job as homeland security director. Giuliani said he had not, and said he didn't ask to be considered.
