FOR THE RECORD

FOR THE RECORD

Bernie Kerik seemed to treat his conviction for improperly accepting nearly $200,000 from three businessmen as a closed chapter in his life now that his former home in Riverdale isn't going to land him in the Big House of a certain island off of Queens.

But as Rudy Giuliani's gift to the top of the Correction and Police Departments moves on, Mayor Bloomberg decided that the lower Manhattan jail long known as The Tombs should not retain its formal name, the Bernard B. Kerik Complex. It has reverted to being the Manhattan Detention Center.

There would have been a delicious irony in having the jail, which got its name while Mr. Kerik was still regarded as one of King Rudy's noble knights, named for a convict. Just as the Tweed Courthouse stands as a monument to the famed 19th Century boodler's taste for excess, the Kerik Complex could have served as a reminder to Mayors not to name public buildings after wild and crazy guys whose taste for high living outruns their sense of judgment and propriety.

But even before Mr. Bloomberg acted, a couple of old-fashioned career public servants made clear that they believed the days of celebrating Mr. Kerik in any way should end with his guilty plea.

Sidney Schwartzbaum, the president of the Assistant Deputy Wardens/Deputy Wardens Association, said, "I implore [Correction Commissioner] Martin Horn and Mayor Bloomberg to change the name of the Bernard B. Kerik Complex."

Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson, who brought the case against Mr. Kerik, made plain his feelings when asked if he believed it appropriate to have the jail named after the disgraced ex-Police Commissioner.

"I'm going to venture a guess," Mr. Johnson said, "that it's unlikely to remain [the Kerik Complex] for a lengthy period of time." Less than 40 hours later, Mr. Bloomberg made him a prophet.

The bitterness of the legal wrangling between prosecutors and Mr. Kerik and his attorneys was made clear when Mr. Johnson and city Investigations Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn were asked whether Bernie was accurate in saying that he had cooperated with the probe.

Ms. Hearn's only response was, "He came to court today and pled guilty."

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New York City's most famous ex-firefighter - 2005 "Survivor" winner Tom Westman - will join several other firefighters trained in scuba diving for a threeday teaching event to introduce the sport to soldiers wounded while stationed in Afghanistan or Iraq.

The event is sponsored by the Wounded Warrior project and will take place in a 41x21-foot scuba pool July 6-9 in Rockaway Point. FDNY firefighters will help 35 soldiers who have suffered amputations and other severe injuries learn the basics of diving.

Kirk Bauer, executive director of Disabled Sports USA and a disabled Vietnam veteran, said the firefighters' involvement "sent a powerful message that challenges can be overcome with support from others." For more information, go to www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

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A pension seminar covering topics including Tier 4 disability, the World Trade Center disability law and final average salary will be conducted July 12 by Norman Rosenfeld, a retired Deputy Director of the New York City Employees' Retirement System.

The session, to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the YWCA of Brooklyn at 30 Third Ave. off Atlantic Ave., will also include information on ordinary and accidental death benefits, the effect of loans on Tier 4 pension payments, the buyback of military service and tier reinstatement.

Admission is $20 but spouses may attend for free. For further information, call Mr. Rosenfeld at (718) 753-1979.

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The Department of Consumer Affairs announced June 28 that it will be taking a more active role in improving worker health and well being. A group of 65 DCA employees have joined the 10-week American Cancer Society's Active Life program, which involves set exercise goals and incentives. For more information, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org/nynj.