LA HABRA : Capt. Graffiti Wages War on Spray Paint

Tom T. Clifton hates graffiti so much that he fights it anytime, anywhere.

For five years, he has been painting out scribbles on property throughout the city. The 49-year-old man spends about seven hours a week with paint roller in hand in search of graffiti vandalism.

When he finds it, he slaps on a coat of off-white, gray or light or dark brown paint.

“I just like doing this because it makes me feel great and I know I’m doing the community some good,” said Clifton, who became developmentally disabled after falling off three-story building when he was 4 and spending a year in a coma.

On Thursday, the City Council will present Clifton with the National Graffiti Information Network’s “Captain Graffiti Award” for his volunteer work.

City officials praise Clifton for his dedication and “tireless efforts in trying to make La Habra safer and graffiti-free.”

“Captain Graffiti” is a super hero who was created by Graffiti Removal Inc. of Commerce two years ago to use in coloring books and videotapes. The caped protagonist wipes out graffiti and spreads an anti-graffiti message in videos and books, which have been distributed in grade schools for about a year.

“Tom is a Captain Graffiti,” said Kay Jacklin, the city’s social services supervisor who coordinates graffiti removal efforts on Saturdays. She and Clifton are on call seven days a week, she said.

“You can always depend on him,” she added. “If someone asks us to clean up graffiti at dawn, we say, ‘Of course,’ because Tom’s always willing to do it.”

Clifton’s disability affects his speech and balance.

“You can do anything you want if you just set your mind to it,” Clifton said. “There’s no such word as can’t, and if I can do it, anybody can do it.”

Jacklin said Clifton’s enthusiasm is contagious. “He’s really an inspiration to a lot of people.”

Police said they appreciate what Clifton does for the city. Capt. John Rees said he believes that when graffiti are erased, it discourages people from committing the crime.

Even so, graffiti have increased in the past three weeks, Rees said, but Clifton is as relentless as the vandals.

“Tommy makes himself very available and goes out at any time to help clean the community. And he never asks to be paid or expects to get anything out of it. That’s just the way he is--a caring volunteer,” Rees said.

“Sometimes the graffiti comes right back up right after I paint it. But I’ll just keep painting too,” Clifton said.