Former NYC Mayor Giuliani remembers best friend Bernie Kerik as 'true patriot': 'Much better for knowing him'

Rudy Giuliani who served as mayor of New York City from to mourned the death of former New York City Police Department Commissioner Bernard Bernie Kerik on Thursday describing the grief of losing his best friend and a true patriot as inexpressible Kerik died at years old after a private battle with illness according to FBI Director Kash Patel Kerik and Giuliani were prominent figures during and after the Sept terrorist attacks in New York City due to their leadership roles in the city and they briskly became close friends On September th Bernie Kerik and I saved each other's lives If we weren't already friends that bound us together forever He was my best friend a true Patriot and one of the bravest men I've ever known Giuliani wrote in a announcement BERNARD KERIK FORMER NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSIONER AND FIGURE DIES AT Giuliani commented Kerik was at his side within minutes of the attack on and never left The first collapse trapped both of them in a building for what Giuliani thinks was to minutes but they were able to escape safely with substantial additional assistance and extraordinary bravery an attitude that Giuliani declared permeated the way for recovery over the next four months Bernie's leadership helped guide the people of a very frightened city to draw from their inherent individual strength as Americans and children of God Giuliani declared on Thursday He also praised Kerik's career in law enforcement specifically pointing out his role as Commissioner of Rikers Island where he was able to reduce violence in the prison by and his role as NYPD commissioner where he reduced crime in the city He was driven by an unwavering love of this country and a commitment to serving others He was one of the most of decorated New York City police officers of his time he explained FORMER NYPD COMMISSIONER CALLS ON POLITICAL LEADERS TO 'GET OUT THERE' AND 'DEESCALATE' VIOLENCE Kerik's -year career has been recognized with more than awards for meritorious and heroic organization including a presidential commendation for heroism by President Ronald Reagan and two Distinguished Provision Awards from the Department of Homeland Safety He was considered for the role of Homeland Precaution chief in but lied to the White House during vetting which ultimately led to him pleading guilty to eight felonies including tax fraud in He spent about three years in prison then moved to home confinement and later supervised release President Donald Trump pardoned him of the convictions in Kerik worked with Giuliani again to investigate states of voting process fraud following the presidential ballot Giuliani expressed his condolences to Kerik's wife his two daughters and his son who is also a police officer and disclosed he believes all of Kerik's friends and admirers are much better for knowing him Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Andrea Margolis contributed to this account