Former cop John Clifford, who seemingly terrorizes his fellow Long Island Railroad riders who talk on cellphones, apply makeup and invite friends to barbecues, had charges of assault, larceny and disorderly conduct thrown out against him yesterday at Manhattan Criminal Court, the NY Times reports.
Clifford has been arrested on the train several times for screaming at fellow passengers who, in his mind, break the social code of keeping one’s noise to oneself on the train. He admitted to slapping the hand of a female passenger as she reached across the aisle to give a business card to a fellow rider.
“I stand up for my right to be let alone,” Mr. Clifford, a retired New York City police sergeant, declared from the witness stand at his nonjury trial on charges including harassment and assault.
We can all relate to the frustration Mr. Clifford feels. But he loses on on a few points in Anemona Hartocollis’ article. First off, the fucker demands five seats for himself, thanks to a tall frame and a bad back.
Secondly, he compares his plight to…wait for it…Rosa Parks.
Outside court, he compared himself to Rosa Parks, fighting for his right to sit where he wanted in peace.
“Look what happened to her,” he said, pointing out that Parks was punished for her stand against discrimination.
Clifford also lambasted the MTA for not enforcing its own noise codes, even bringing a decibel-reader on board to take measurements.
So, the question of the day: is John Clifford a complete jerk, or a defender of Everycommuter’s civil rights?
Complete psycho jerk!!!!!
I’ve seen the guy on tv and he is just a big tool. I share some/most of his gripes but I think his former cop status and imposing 6’3 stature give him a greater sense of untouchability that we regular guys don’t enjoy. He is a glorified and now vindicated bully. I do like that HBO fired him because of his numerous arrests!
maybe he should get some BOSE headphones, if he doesn’t like the chatter.