News Release [print friendly page]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2002

New York City's former "TOP COP" Visits the Detroit Division Office

On December 9, 2002, the former Police Commissioner for the City of New York, Bernard Kerik, visited the Detroit Division Office. Accompanying Commissioner Kerik was the former Deputy Commissioner Maureen Casey.

Former Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, appointed Mr. Kerik as the 40th Police Commissioner for the City of New York in September of 2000. Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Kerik served with the New York Police Department from 1986 to 1994 in both uniformed and plain clothes duty. One of his assignments was with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) New York Task Force. While on the Task Force he helped direct narcotics investigations that resulted in the conviction of more than sixty members of the Cali Cartel.

The most challenging point of Commissioner Kerik's career, however, came on September 11, 2001. Commissioner Kerik was near ground zero that day and witnessed first-hand the horrific events unfold around the World Trade Center. His outstanding leadership of the NYPD that day and in the months that followed served as a solid foundation from which the city could begin its restoration. His determination to ensure the citizens that the city was again safe and secure was recognized around the world. In recognition of his heroic efforts on September 11, 2001, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed onto Commissioner Kerik an honorary CBE, Commander of the British Empire.

During the Commissioner's visit to the Detroit DEA office, Special Agent in Charge Michael A. Braun held an all-hands meeting where Commissioner Kerik shared his experiences from September 11, 2001. During his presentation, Commissioner Kerik emphasized the strong connection between terrorism and drug trafficking and the importance in combating these two evils.

The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner were in Detroit as part of a nationwide review of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded a contract to the firm of Ernst & Young, LLP to conduct a comprehensive management review of the OCDETF Program. The Ernst & Young LLP firm has partnered with Giuliani-Kerik LLC to conduct this review which is scheduled to be published sometime in May 2003.