Rudy’s ‘Horse’ Bites Him

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s decision to make Bernard B. Kerik his Police Commissioner in recent years has been likened to the Emperor Caligula’s appointment of his horse as a Consul in ancient Rome. The primary difference is that the horse didn’t do as much damage to the reputation of his patron.

The only thing surprising about Mr. Kerik’s guilty plea in White Plains Federal Court last week was that it took so long. A large part of the case against him grew out of the same misdeeds that Mr. Kerik essentially admitted in pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges in The Bronx more than three years ago. Then again, nobody ever thought his middle initial stood for Brilliant.

Even given the strong public reviews he got for his tenure as Correction Commissioner, it’s clear that Mr. Giuliani had a better choice than Mr. Kerik when he tapped him to run the NYPD. The other candidate, Joe Dunne, was a much-respected 30-year veteran of the department; Mr. Kerik had never risen above Third-Grade Detective and lacked the college degree that was required of all cops above the rank of Sergeant. That Mr. Giuliani chose loyalty over merit, even while questions had already arisen within his administration about Mr. Kerik’s honesty, is a pretty damning commentary.

It is also why it is hard to imagine him running for Governor next year, let alone having a shot to win.