His meteoric rise to become New York City’s chief law enforcement officer was later tarnished after he pleaded guilty to federal corruption and tax crimes.

Bernard Kerik, who was hailed for his role in leading the New York City Police Department during the September 11, 2001, attacks but later went to prison for tax evasion, died on Thursday at the age of 69.

Kerik had been commissioner for just one year before he was faced with the biggest terroristic attack ever on U.S. soil on Sept. 11, 2001. He heroically led the NYPD through the devastating rescue