Bernard Kerik - Awards and Honors

Awards and Honors

Considered one of the most decorated Police Commissioners in the history of the New York City Police Department, he earned 30 medals for excellent, meritorious and heroic service, including the New York City Police Department Medal for Valor for his involvement in a gun battle in which his partner was shot and wounded and he and his team members returned fire, downing the suspect. Other medals included 1 Honorable Mention, 5 Commendations, 10 Meritorious Police Duty and 13 Excellent Police Duty medals.

Kerik received a U. S. Presidential Letter of Commendation from President Ronald Reagan for heroism and was appointed Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. He was also appointed Knight Commander, of the Military Constantinian Order of St. George by the Duke of Calabria, Italy. He received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Mayor’s Medal of Honor from the City of Paterson, New Jersey, and a Mayor’s Meritorious Commendation from the City of Passaic, New Jersey, all for heroism. He earned the Medal of Merit from the New Jersey State Police Benevolent Association and the Medal for Valor from the International Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association.

Other honors have included: The New York State Senate Liberty Award, the Golden Star Leadership Award, Los Angeles, California; Special Achievement Award, Special Narcotics Prosecutor's Office, City of New York; Man of the Year Award, Honor Legion, Police Department – City of New York; Man of the Year Award, Detective’s Endowment Association, Police Department – City of New York; Man of the Year Award, Brooklyn Law School, LELSA; 2 Distinguished Service Awards, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; DEA Administrator's Award, U.S. Department of Justice, DEA; Distinguished Person of the Year, NYC Correction Captains Association; Distinguished Service Award, New York Shields; Distinguished Service Award, New York City Retired Detective's Association; Dedication and Commitment Award, NYC Correction Officer’s Association and the President’s Appreciation Award, NYC Correction Guardians Association.

He is an active member of the Detective’s Endowment Association – City of New York and the New Jersey State PBA (Silver Card – Life Member). He is a member of the Honor Legion of both, the City of New York and State of New Jersey; and past member of the National Council of Columbia Societies in Civil Service; the Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association of New York and the International Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association. He served as the former Vice Chairman of the Boy Scouts’ Greater New York Council Law Enforcement Exploring Division and the Michael John Buczek Foundation Award's Committee.

He has received Honorary Doctorates from Michigan State University, New York Institute of Technology, Manhattanville College, College of New Rochelle and Iona College, and he received the President's Medal from Hunter College.

He is a 5th Degree Master Instructor in the Martial Arts, studying both Korean and Japanese Karate, and has been inducted into The Centurion Black Belt Hall of Fame.