By Karenlyn Barone, Mike Schnitzel and Jacquie Rath
The fact that Clifford, a retired New York City police officer, had recently asked to be considered for the Rockville Centre police commissioner's job and that he has been embroiled in ongoing political discord in Lynbrook had conspiracy theorists in both villages buzzing. Was Clifford set up and, if so, by whom?
One of the more remarkable aspects of the drama was Rockville Centre Police Commissioner Jack McKeon's refutations of Newsday's account of the incident. "Newsday got it wrong," McKeon said, referring to an article that appeared on Wednesday Dec. 7 in which the paper stated that the car following Clifford's was equipped with lights and sirens. According to McKeon the car involved in the pursuit, a white Nissan Maxima, was an unmarked car and was not equipped with any special lights or sirens.
In a phone interview with the Herald on Dec. 7, McKeon denounced the published statement, saying, "All we have here is a series of traffic infractions." McKeon confirmed that Clifford was issued a ticket for speeding and another for crossing a divided highway.
Clifford is more surprised than anyone at the attention his tickets have drawn. "I don't believe this is going on," Clifford told the Herald . "I committed a traffic infraction, and the political climate in Lynbrook has blown things up more than they should have. The officer was doing his job, and gave me a summons for a traffic infraction."
When asked about his interest in the police commissioner's job, Clifford said, "In September, Commissioner McKeon fell unexpectedly ill, and it was my understanding that his position might become available in the future. ... McKeon recovered from his unexpected hospital stay, and the request for consideration became a moot point, as far as I was concerned."
In a statement at the village board meeting on Monday Dec. 5, Clifford said, in part, "When I arrived home [on Nov. 30], a plainclothes Rockville Centre police officer, driving a white Nissan Maxima, was at my house. He issued a ticket for the U-turn and a speeding ticket, and that was that. What has transpired since then is nothing short of defamatory and insulting false rumors about my character. ... There are a few people in our community who believe that democracy gives them the right to be malicious and to defame. They are sadly mistaken. Their actions only reveal their own depraved character."
Adding to the confusion was the allegation that Lynbrook Trustee David Penso and former Lynbrook Trustee Kevin Kelly were on the scene when Clifford was issued the tickets, and that Penso photographed the incident. When asked if he was waiting in the bushes near Clifford's house with a camera, Penso said, "No. I was a block away, and I had my digital camera, because I always keep it in my car. Outside of Richie Clifford's house there was a marked Rockville Centre police car, an unmarked Rockville Centre police car, and former (Lynbrook) Trustee Kevin Kelly. I was right out in the open. I was speaking to the trustee and the people who live in [a neighboring] house. I was not hiding behind any bushes."
Penso admitted to taking a photo of Clifford being issued the summonses, but did not elaborate on his reasons for doing so or what brought him and Kelly to Clifford's neighborhood just in time to witness and photograph the incident. "I hope that the Herald does not put a spin on any of the events, because I will hold them accountable," Penso said .
Comments about this story? KBarone@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.
