DOI Outrage a Joke

To the Editor:

Rose Gill Hearn's using her spokesman's letter to the editor (July 14 issue) to offer a defense of the Department of Investigation for its actions regarding the failed investigations of Bernie the Perp's corrupt actions is laughable.

She has no defense at all. DOI's actions regarding Kerik were nowhere to be found.

Kerik's corrupt activities as Correction Commissioner were out in the open for all to see and reported in the press. Those included his actions regarding the conspiracy against Capt. Herbert Reid; his actions regarding Anthony Serra and the Republican Party operation run from Rikers Island; his actions regarding the coverup of his former Chief of Staff John Picciano's reported assault of Correction secretary Carmen Vives; his actions in protecting his friends involved in the tax scandal for which others were fired or severely disciplined; his inaction while serving as First Deputy Commissioner of Correction and also President of the Correction Foundation regarding the transfer of over $1 million of city funds into the Correction Foundation - which spent the money to promote Kerik - and his actions circumventing city purchasing guidelines, which cost the city millions. Yet DOI took no action for years.

Thank God, Kerik was so arrogant and power-hungry that he sought the Homeland Security job. It was all of the press generated for that national position that finally forced DOI to get off its butt and do something about Kerik's corruption. If Kerik hadn't gone for that job, he would have gotten away with it all. The reason for that is because, through it all, DOI sat by and did nothing because they knew Bernie the Perp was Rudy Giuliani's "made man."

TERRENCE J. SKINNER,
Deputy Warden In Command, Retired