As weekend cycling training for New York athletes still depends on the NJ roads after the GWB, consider yourself warned. There’s a testy police officer in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, that seems to have a special “attraction” to bike riders in his patrol area. Over time, several rational and respected members of our local road racing community noticed a common experience on Route 9W and other roads after the GWB. It seems that this police officer periodically stops cyclists for riding two abreast and similar “crimes”, tickets riders (or worst) while providing a variety of abuse.
Reports indicate that his name sounds like Haggerty. There are recollections of his actions going as far back as 15 years ago (that case was brought by the cyclist to the local NJ court, challenged it in court and case was immediately tossed out by the judge). His patrol vehicle is the unmarked car (could be a black Mustang).
Here is a recollection from another cyclist: “The man went ballistic on us. He threatened to throw our bikes in his trunk and take us down to HQ, but there was no way, no how I was getting in a car with such a lunatic, even if he was a cop. Others at the time had similar stories. I filed a complaint with internal affairs, but of course, he was absolved. BTW, he was driving an unmarked car.”
Coach Scott’s triathlon career - 20+ years.