Cumberland, MD – Bernard Kerik’s unprecedented plunge from One Police Plaza to a jailhouse bed came with an unfamiliar feeling: Helplessness.
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“Going to prison is like dying with your eyes open,” the disgraced ex-NYPD commissioner told the Daily News behind the walls of a Maryland federal prison.
“You watch your world pass before your very eyes, and no matter how good, bad, tragic or horrific … all you can do is watch from afar.”
It’s a cruel change for Inmate No. 84888-054, who once commanded 40,000 city cops and became a national hero after 9/11.
The 56-year-old once known as “America’s Cop” now leads a spartan life of daily exercise and reading.
How did this poor guy fall so steeply?
Tax fraud and no friends willing to help him out. cf. Charles Rangel, Tim Geithner, David Dinkins etc.
True
I think a better question is “how did he rise to that level in the first place?”
Whats wrong with dying? You go to the world to come. Your issue is that you want to be the prince today and noone will give you your sceptor. Be realistic, prison is more like enduring your own stupidity in your own face.
Reminds me of the fall of Haman.
As it says in Pirkey Avos:
Al Detfech Atfuch Vesof Metafayich Yetufun.
Right now Bloomberg is on the horse, hitting New Yorkers with Tickets, Bike Lanes and all other evil, but one day to come, like the commissioner, Bloomberg will be “in the right place” and have to pay for his sins, just like everyone else.
Why should anyone (except his family) feel sorry for Bernard Kerik? Whereas he may have gotten away with his white collar crimes at the State level, the Feds were not as forgiving. Most Americans work very hard at preparing accurate and honest federal and state income tax returns. However, not Bernard Kerik, who tried to cheat the government. Therefore, he got what he deserved. I don’t feel the slightest amount of compassion for him; sorry.
Hes not even in the infamous Rikers where prisoners go through hell and back and he’s complaining!
As is evident in the article he still gets special treatment there.
He was not the nicest guy on the block. But what he says is true. Our criminal justice system is inhumane in the extreme. Because there is a vast industry profiting from imprisonment we have been fed a line that we hare “soft on crime” and “crime is out of control”. Rubashkin was not as pure as snow but still his sentence was excessive but there was nothing special about him; it is the evil of thye system
Stop whining you moreh shechoroh new yorkers. Get on with it. You don’t want fines, don’t park illegally, you don’t want bike lanes becuase you selfish pot bellied obese, benefit shnorrers want to drive your gas guzzling, pollution emitting cars wherever you want? Too bad, bloomberg for president, the mans a genius. keep the fines coming boys.
Such a shame, he was a good Commish & a good man. But those in high office should get stiffer punishments, they are supposed to be role models & lead by example. He wasn’t rich enough? Chaval.
FCI Cumberland is a minimal security prison. I think it would be more appropriate for him to thank his lucky stars he is not doing hard time in a real jail. He shows no remorse.
Brother…. When you get out try to be a good man,,,,,