With prison looming, ex-NYC police Commissioner Kerik says he never betrayed public’s trust

Ex-NYC top cop Kerik says he never betrayed trust

NEW YORK — Weeks before he’s scheduled to report to prison, former New York City police Commissioner Bernard Kerik says he doesn’t feel that he has betrayed the public’s trust.

Kerik told WPIX-TV in an interview to be broadcast Thursday and Friday that he believes he was targeted in attempts to hurt Rudy Giuliani and he still considers the former mayor a friend.

Kerik pleaded guilty in November to eight felonies, including tax fraud and lying to the White House while being vetted for the job of Homeland Security chief in 2004. He’s scheduled to begin serving a four-year prison term next month.

But Kerik tells WPIX that he never used his office for personal gain.

He says being behind bars will be a disappointment and embarrassing, but he says he’ll “deal with it one day at a time.”