I get the feeling this tough guy picks his targets carefully. So far he has picked on a 19 year old kid and a small woman. He's 6'4".

I get the feeling that if he ran into someone, say, bigger than the two victims in this case, he'd be quiet as a little impotent mouse.

Please let Mongbat know that I don't pick my targets at all. Never have. I didn't choose to walk away either. I had over 300 arrests as a NYC cop and was shot at ten times that I know of. So, Mongbat rethink your feelings.

Way to go John! I have seen way too many drunk, obnoxious young men and women directly bother their fellow passengers. Some passengers can't just keep quiet and mind their own business. Heaven forbid they should just sit and read a paper or close their eyes and rest. Nope! They must bother others around them. It is about time someone put them in their palce. Kudos!

John, John, When you were a cop the distinction was that you had the power of the state behind you. Now it's just you and the person your annoying. I'd be careful fella. That badge aint there anymore and there is nothing between us now but a little air.

John Clifford, what a small, small little man. Won't anyone play with you at home???

John, you think you're bringing civility to the LIRR by shouting, swearing, and slapping at people? Oh, the irony.

John, Thank you very much for letting these rude people know that they are wrong for abusing everyone around them. I am not willing to do it myself but I get very angry at these asses. I wish I had you in a bottle that I could crack open on those people and their loud car stereo cousins! Bravo!!!

Frankly you're ridiculous. Regardless if someone is one their phone or not, it is not against any major city transit rules to use a cell phone. You must do so without unreasonable intrusion of other customers. If the person was too loud, oyu could kindly ask then to keep it down (kindly being the operative word there). Further thinking on the matter as long as they talked at normal volume what is the difference between a cell call and a regular conversation. If anything I've encountered more irritating conversations than any cell phone user, granted I'm in Chicago, but I think its comparable. Regardless of any of that, hitting a woman is terrible behavior- though I wouldn't put it past an ex-cop (fairly typical behavior). And using insulting terms like "faggot"? Seriously? What are you, twelve? I agree many people don't behave appropriately on public transit, but you're not helping! IF anything alert the operator before HITTING someone.

Taking up 5 seats? Blowing his nose loudly? Rustling his newspaper loudly? The nose-blowing and newspaper-rustling are about equivalent to talking on cellphones in their level of disruption, and taking up 5 seats is just unconscionable. It seems that Mr. Clifford's behavior on the train is boorish, intrusive, and highly annoying, but he doesn't care. He only cares when somebody else does it because then it affects his need to be in control.

This jerk is going to get in the wrong person's face, and he's going to regret acting like a bigger jerk than the ones he's out to silence. The court's decision to take no action against him, is tacit approval of his harassment and borderline lunatic behavior. Clifford needs to reign it in, or he's going to get beaten to a pulp.

He misses the power of being in the police, so he takes it out on people who won't stand up to him.

Ignore their conversations or have one yourself. It's never been illegal to talk to someone while on the train.

He'll eventually step enough over the line that he'll be charged. It's inevitable.

I can't wait to run into this guy

Hello. Great job, I did not expect this, this is a great post. Thanks!