As part of an agreement, hell remain an employee through February and earn roughly $69,000 in salary for unused holiday and sick time, officials said. Atkinson repeats he's provided his identification but Smyly wants more proof. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. A video showing part of the scene went viral on the Internet, sparking outrage in the progressive Colorado city. Boulder is essentially saying were going to pay this officer and let him resign for threatening Zayds life, for racially profiling Zayd, said Atkinsons attorney, Siddhartha Rathod. When Zayde continues to refuse to be John Smyly's b****, Smyly brandished a fire arm to try to further intimidate his victim into compliance. Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the buildings rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. DENVER (AP) A white Colorado police officer who pulled out his gun during a confrontation with a black man picking up trash around his dormitory resigned this week under an agreement that lets him collect $69,000 in salary despite violating department policies. The exchange between Officer Smyly and Mr. Atkinson does not represent the professionalism of the Boulder Police Department nor the community Boulder desires to be, City Attorney Tom Carr said in a statement to the newspaper. Officer Smyly . According to the summary, one officer drew his handgun when he arrived but re-holstered it in less than a minute while Smyly had his gun out until Atkinson put the trash-grabbing tool down.The report released with the video footage said Smyly had no authority to detain Atkinson or probable cause to charge him with any crime and should have left once Atkinson provided his name, address and his reason for being there.Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. We have concluded this hire was not helpful to our equity work, and I wish . (Siddhartha Rathod via AP) 1 of 2. We still have people who really believe that Boulder is just this perfect town, who believe that what happened to Zayd was an isolated incident, so I want to reach every single resident somehow, some way, Miller said. Mr Atkinson told local broadcaster CBS4 Denver he was glad Officer Smyly was "being held accountable for something but it seems like it's just bare minimum things". City Attorney Tom Carr said the exchange between Smyly and Atkinson does not represent the professionalism of the department. By Breanna . Details of the payment amount were included in the City Council agenda packet released Thursday evening ahead of its . Smyly is a 14-year department veteran was found in violation of two department policies. The city added that On March 1, 2019, back when few mainstream politicians used the term "systemic racism" while discussing law enforcement aimed at people of color, Boulder Police officer John Smyly starred in a . Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. D.L. "I don't have a weapon! My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. covers a variety of topics including breaking news, politics, Hip-Hop music and culture, fashion, and Black history. Boulder Is the Happiest City in the U.S. For Some, Marshall Fire Devastates CU Boulder Community. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - John Smyly, a Boulder police officer, has resigned after his department says he violated two rules when he questioned and followed a . The Boulder City Council has also created a task force to study police oversight. John Smyly was found in violation of department policies and resigned in May 2019 after an internal investigation into Smyly's encounter with Zayd Atkinson in Boulder on March 1, 2019. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. May 17, 2019, 6:17 AM PDT. He then begins commands for the student to sit down on the pavement . Oyeneyin was handcuffed and detained in his own home after police responded to a burglar alarm in process. The officer, John Smyly, was identified Thursday as the 14-year department veteran seen in a 16-minute video posted to YouTube after confronting Zayd Atkinson outside a Naropa University dorm in . On Thursday, the city announced the conclusion of an internal investigation, saying it found Smyly violated two department policies could not substantiate claims of racial bias. The city of Boulder said in a statement Thursday that officer John Smyly violated multiple department policies when he confronted Zayd Atkinson, 26, in March. Mr. Atkinson turned, took out his ear buds, and asked what was going on. Atkinson refused then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away. DENVER >> A white Colorado police officer who pulled out his gun during a confrontation with a black man picking up trash around his dormitory resigned this week under an agreement that lets him . By Ben Kesslen. We do urge caution as this video could trigger some. Smyly was allowed to resign, and is likely working for another department at this time. John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. Smyly, who had been on paid leave since the tense encounter, was found in violation of two department policies but resigned his post before the end of the citys disciplinary process. Facebook gives people the power to share. Carr said the resignation agreement allowed the city to provide the community information more quickly, and it transitioned Officer Smyly out of a law enforcement career. The citys bargaining agreement with police officers requires an appeal for any disciplinary action and could have allowed Smyly to return to duty, he added. May 16, 2019, 9:54 PM. 2023 BBC. When demonstrators took to the streets to show support for Atkinson and protest racism, the filmmakers grabbed their cameras and got to work. ABC News noted that other officers arrived on the scene soon after. The city of Bouldersaid in a statement Thursday that officer John Smyly violated multiple department policies when heconfrontedZayd Atkinson, 26, in March. John Smiley was a Pitcher. Chandler is a veteran of the Washington D.C. metro writing scene, working as a journalist, reporter, and culture critic. Carr said investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct. This is a clamp.. Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. is a native Washingtonian and resides in the Greater Washington area. Investigators also determined that a person overheard on the footage telling Atkinson that he was likely racially profiled was a Naropa employee and not one of the responding officers. [The positive reaction] makes me want to work even harder toward fixing these problems, and Im feeling that same sense of energy and responsibility from audiences, said Miller. More from The Latest Hip-Hop News, Music and Media | Hip-Hop Wired, Your email will be shared with hiphopwired.com and subject to its, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Loses Reelection Bid, Larsa Pippen Shares She Hung Out With Her Beaus Dad Michael Jordan, Dreamville & Daily Paper Launch Dream Daily Collection. Smyly was conducting extra patrols due to recent crime in the area when he encountered Atkinson with an unknown object in his left hand, according to a summary of the probe released by Boulder police Chief Greg Testa. I didnt know what else to do besides, you know, to fight with my voice and to practice my rights, which were thoroughly being breached., THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. Read about our approach to external linking. Such is the case of Boulder, Colo., police officer John Smyly over his interaction with Zayd Atkinson on March 1st this year. The subject officer should have ended his contact with Mr. Atkinson as soon as Mr. Atkinson provided his name, address and a brief explanation of what he was doing, the report read. "The subject officer did not have probable cause to charge Mr Atkinson with any crime.". At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. John Smyly resigned from the BPD after pointing a gun at Black Naropa student Zayd Atkinson, and he was just hired by Boulder County Sheriff. Im picking up trash and youre holding a gun!After about eight minutes, more Boulder police officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson.One officer can be seen holding a rifle; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags. He said he has had trouble sleeping since and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him.My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said.Carr, the city attorney, said the resignation agreement allowed the city to provide the community information more quickly, and it transitioned Officer Smyly out of a law enforcement career. The citys bargaining agreement with police officers requires an appeal for any disciplinary action and could have allowed Smyly to return to duty, he added.City officials said the investigation could not prove that Smyly acted because of Atkinsons race. One officer drew his handgun when he arrived but reholstered it in less than a minute, while Smyly had his gun out until Atkinson put the trash-grabbing tool down, according to the summary. It was a frightening experience. My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. The body camera footage of Officer Smyly shows the exchange between go sour after Atkinson told him that he was a resident and offered to show him his access . Atkinsons behavior reportedly led Smyly to radio for backup because the resident was being uncooperative and unwilling to put down a blunt object, a police statement obtained by ABC News said. But an independent review of the confrontation found no impropriety in the procedures . That footage only showed Zayd Atkinson holding a bucket and a tool for picking up trash as police officers surrounded him outside the dormitory for students at Naropa University, a liberal arts school associated with Buddhism. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly escalates the situation. After Atkinson said he did, Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. 400 0 obj <> endobj However, Smyly resigned before the investigation concluded. John Smyly was found in violation of department policies and resigned in May 2019 after an internal investigation into Smyly's encounter with Zayd Atkinson in Boulder on March 1, 2019. John Smyly, the Boulder, Colorado, officer who initiated contact with Zayd Atkinson that resulted in a tense interaction where several officers drew their guns, was allowed to resign. I found this video of John Smyly, whom I met personally in Japan in 2003 and dont think hes a racist, reason why I decided to make this video. A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. Smyly next asked for Atkinsons date of birth. Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. An independent review conducted by former U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado Bob Troyer will be released once its complete, which is expected to be next week. But the movie goes much deeper than this moment, exploring how Boulders earliest history made it nearly impossible for people of color to succeed in the idyllic city in the shadow of the Flatirons. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinson's race. Most young women are not. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in . John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. The shepherd boy, the wolf and the threat to Israeli democracy. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role on May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. On body-camera footage the city released Thursday, Atkinson can be heard saying, Im a student, I live here Im doing my job.. In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. The student's lawyer, Siddhartha Rathod, told local newspaper the Denver Post that he was disappointed Mr Smyly had not been fired and would still be paid. KQ)csp W,M=--I3&\(4lPb&[ Atkinson asked for Smylys supervisor several times during the footage and a total of eight officers and a sergeant responded to the scene. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd . Officer John Smyly was allowed to resign. Stop!He then told Atkinson that he was obstructing a police officer, a jailable offense. Smyly later told Atkinson that he was being detained for trespassing.Smyly drew his Taser and followed Atkinson to the back of the building, repeatedly telling him to sit down on the ground and put the weapon down, referring to the trash tool. In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. Im picking up trash, and youre holding a gun!. Officer Smyly drew his gun and called in backup during the confrontation in March. Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. A police internal affairs report said that Smylys choice to detain Atkinson was not supported by reasonable suspicion that Mr. Atkinson was committing, had committed, or was about to commit a crime.. Atkinsons attorney, meanwhile, said he was upset that Smyly is allowed to stay on the citys payroll for more than eight months. At one point, eight police officers were surrounding Atkinson, but they eventually left after confirming Atkinson did indeed live in the building as he claimed. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. Supervised 25 different police officer trainees, evaluating job performance and developing training plans to encourage professional growth and improve deficiencies. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. Atkinson refused then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away.Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. Police body camera footage released Thursday . IE 11 is not supported. Follow @dlchandler123 Authorities also released body camera footage from officers at the scene. Kazeem Oyeneyin answers the door at his home in Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 17. Recordings emerged of Greene referring to deputies in his department as "Black bastards" and "snakes.". Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . Atkinson then raised his voice, causing the officer to become threatened by the trash grabber, according to the report. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter.According to the new video footage, Smyly approached Atkinson on March 1 in front of the condo-style building, where he was using a metal tool with a claw at its base to put trash into a bucket. Published: May. According to the new video footage, Smyly approached Atkinson on March 1 in front of the condo-style building, where he was using a metal tool with a claw at its base to put trash into a bucket. The incident happened on March 1 on the 2300 block of Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder. Check out footage of the exchange between Smyly and Atkinson. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Its hard to believe now, but there was a time when there was no Google in Boulder. Police body camera footage released Thursday provided a full video account of the tense encounter, which had gained national attention based on video shot by someone inside a student dormitory at Naropa University, a liberal arts school associated with Buddhism in the city of Boulder. (Facebook . Watch: Police confront black man in his own yard. Mr Smyly attempted to detain Mr Atkinson . A white Colorado police officer who confronted a black man picking . When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to . "I need to verify who you are," Smyly says. As Atkinson attempted to continue to pick up trash, Smyly told him, Youre probably going to get tased, and eventually pulled out his gun, claiming Atkinsons trash grabber could be used as a weapon. Youre gonna shoot a resident on his property for picking up trash?, Smyly drew his gun when the two men reached the back of the building, an investigative summary said. . Youre probably going to get tased in a second, because you have a weapon, Smyly told Atkinson before brandishing his handgun. I thought that once the firearm was out that that meant that he was going to try to kill me, Atkinson said. Learn more about John S.'s . The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. Boulder police launch an internal investigation after a video surfaces showing officers confronting an African American man picking up trash in Boulder, Colorado. WEST POINT, N.Y. Army head coach Jeff Monken is giving a history lesson. 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Department rule 8 (Conduct): Members use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the department. "That just pisses me off that my tax money is going there to this guy to hang out for a year after breaking the law and breaching my rights," Atkinson said. Maybe he got a suspicious call or saw something but things escalated. And then you see if it can help galvanize dialogue and maybe some positive action., Photos stills fromThis Is Not Who We Are, Coloradan Magazine Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. According to the summary, one officer drew his handgun when he arrived but re-holstered it in less than a minute while Smyly had his gun out until Atkinson put the trash-grabbing tool down. We would immediately lose our jobs.. The findings likely would have resulted in suspension or possible termination, according to the department. We would immediately lose our jobs.. In a statement, City Attorney Tom Carr said firing the officer, John Smyly, would have led to a drawn-out appeal and potentially allowed him to keep his job. 17, 2019 at 1:00 PM PDT. We would immediately lose our jobs.In a statement, City Attorney Tom Carr said firing the officer, John Smyly, would have led to a drawn-out appeal and potentially allowed him to keep his job.Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. On Thursday morning, the city of Boulder announced the investigation had closed and the officer, who had already resigned, had not racially profiled the man. Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything Christie: Trump grand jury foreperson did a lot of damage to case, Bill Maher: I am afraid of Trump on a very personal level. John Smyly, a former police officer in the city of Boulder, Colo., will not face harsh penalties after he racially profiled, harassed, and threatened a Black man doing a good deed in his community . The officer "did not have authority to detain Mr Atkinson", the department wrote in their report. Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the buildings rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there.After Atkinson said he did, Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. Im not tryi. DENVER (AP) A white Colorado police officer who pulled out his gun during a confrontation with a black man picking up trash around his dormitory resigned this week under an agreement that lets him collect $69,000 in salary despite violating department policies. One of the officers involved in the latter scenario, John Smyly, resigned from the BPD earlier this month. Youre on my property with a gun in your hand, threatening to shoot me because Im picking up trash, Atkinson said. 1202 University Avenue, 459 UCB The film "This Is Not Who We Are" includes the testimonials of several black Boulder . All Rights Reserved. That footage only showed Zayd Atkinson holding a bucket and a tool for picking up trash as police officers surrounded him outside the dormitory for students at Naropa University, a liberal arts school associated with Buddhism. The man he tried to bully and intimidate, Zayde Atkinson, NEVER gave in. Atkinson also told ABC Newss Good Morning America in April that hes been struggling with stress and trauma since the encounter. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. Lawmakers trounce Lobbyists in annual charity hockey game, These four House Republicans broke with the GOP to oppose inflation estimates bill, Biden mocks Rep. 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"Boulder is paying this officer nearly $80,000 in taxpayer money, giving him a year's paid vacation for what he did," Rathod said, adding that if any other citizen had done what Smyly did, they would be fired from their job and charged criminally. John Smiley was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 12th round of the 1983 MLB June Amateur Draft from Perkiomen School (Pennsburg, PA). He said he has had trouble sleeping and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. The police officer who pulled a gun on a man picking up trash outside his own home in Boulder, Colorado, has resigned, city officials said Thursday . They hope that after viewing the film, people will feel motivated to take action or start down a path of self-education, however they feel compelled to whether thats by joining the Boulder County branch of the NAACP, reading books on white privilege, having difficult conversations about race and ethnicity or something else entirely. One officer can be seen holding a rifle; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags. Featuring historical context and emotional interviews with present-day Black residents of Boulder including children and teens grappling with racist bullies at school This Is [Not] Who We Are shows another side of a city that views itself as progressive. Mr. Rathod is correct. He then told Atkinson that he was obstructing a police officer, a jailable offense. Smyly later told Atkinson that he was being detained for trespassing. The city on Thursday announced the settlement but did not include the terms in a news release. Thats what youre gonna do, officer? An attorney for Atkinson called the agreement with the city of Boulder ridiculous., Boulder is essentially saying, 'Were going to pay this officer and let him resign for threatening Zayds life, for racially profiling Zayd,' attorney Siddhartha Rathod said. The citizens of Boulder should be outraged that Boulder either doesnt have the ability or the will to fire this officer and root out discrimination from this police department., 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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BOULDER, Colo. One of the Boulder police officers who confronted a black man as he was picking up trash in his yard has been found to be in violation of department policies and has resigned . Zayd Atkinson, a student at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, was picking up garbage outside of his residence when officer John Smyly approached. Boulder is essentially saying were going to pay this officer and let him resign for threatening Zayds life, for racially profiling Zayd, said Atkinsons attorney, Siddhartha Rathod. Cellphone footage shot by a neighbor showed Smyly holding his firearm amid the confrontation. 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