}, 2000 ) } ); 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. 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 . Officer John Smyly was allowed to resign. 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. A video showing part of the scene went viral on the Internet, sparking outrage in the progressive Colorado city. 'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.async=true;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs'); hb```*f Cellphone footage shot by a neighbor showed Smyly holding his firearm amid the confrontation. has worked in the past for MTV News, Billboard, and several other publications. The city said that an investigation did not find evidence of racial profiling. In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. Officer Smyly got his attention and asked him to stop. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. I have practiced law for over 28 years, 14 of those years as a federal prosecutor and . 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. A white police officer who pulled out his gun during a heated confrontation with a black college student picking up trash outside his Colorado dorm is resigning and will continue to collect his paycheck for the next eight months, city officials said. Thats what youre gonna do officer? Boulder Police Department's investigation found Mr Smyly had violated the department's rules on police authority, public trust and conduct. (Facebook . Read about our approach to external linking. endstream endobj startxref In a documentary filmmaking class during her junior year at CU, Katrina Miller (Jour07) made a short movie about her friend, a Black student whod received a racially charged letter threatening her to step down from her post as student body president. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. 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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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. ", US police detain black man picking rubbish, Human error to blame for train crash - Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. endstream endobj 401 0 obj <. 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. Zayd Atkinson was picking up trash in his front yard in the 2300 block of Arapahoe Avenue about 8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 1, when Smyly, a 14-year veteran of the department with no background of . 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. . Atkinson echoed Rathod's remarks in an interview with Denver7. Atkinson then started to walk away and continue picking up trash after Smyly asked for his address and date of birth, leading Smyly to radio for help. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! 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. Im picking up trash! "I need to verify who you are," Smyly says. Everyone really needs to open their eyes to all the truths of their community so we can fix it.. He said he has had trouble sleeping and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. 418 0 obj <>stream Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. Atkinson refused then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away.Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. Stop!. KATHLEEN FOODY. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! And then you make it beautiful, you hope, so that lots of people are moved by it and want to engage with it. "If you or I did what Officer Smyly did to Zayd Atkinson, not only would we be immediately fired, we would be criminally prosecuted. A white Colorado police officer has resigned after being caught on video drawing his gun on a black man who said he was picking up trash at his property. %PDF-1.6 % When demonstrators took to the . Read about our approach to external linking. 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 tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him. Smyly later said he believed his stun gun would be ineffective in subduing Atkinson because of the heavy coat he was wearing at the time, according to the report. He resigned before a disciplinary process commenced. My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. Smyly violated police authority and public trust and conduct, according to the review process that wouldve likely ended in his suspension or termination had he not already resigned from the department, police told the newspaper. Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. 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. 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 . 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 . A white Colorado police officer who confronted 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. A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. Oyeneyin was handcuffed and detained in his own home after police responded to a burglar alarm in process. We would immediately lose our jobs.. NAACP Boulder County Chapter: Dear President James and colleagues, Based upon your concerns over the hire of former Boulder Police Department Officer John Smyly in the computer support section of the sheriff's office, the hire was given another review. @dlchandler123. 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. More officers -- 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn. 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. Mr Smyly attempted to detain Mr Atkinson . 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D.L. 2 Followers, 0 Following, 1 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from John Smyly (@reformed_cop) If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Im picking up trash and youre holding a gun!. Famous Women Caught With Busted Up Feet [Photos], LL Cool J Explains The Meaning Of Pink Cookies In A Plastic Bag On Drink Champs, Toxic Avengers: Blueface Leaks Alleged Texts From Lil Baby To Chrisean Rock, 15 Music Stars Who Had Disturbing Relationships With Their Entourages [Photos], Twitter Reacts To Will Smith Joking About Chris Rock Slap In New Tik Tok Video, Brandon Smiley Laid To Rest Over The Weekend, Rickey Smiley Shares Photos & Videos, BET Uncut Is Not Coming Back; Here's Its 15 Wildest Videos Anyway, Finger Struggle: Celebrities With Crazy Looking Hands [Photos]. But an independent review of the confrontation found no impropriety in the procedures . John Smiley was a Pitcher. 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Boulder Police Officer John Smyly was one of several cops who confronted student Zayd Atkinson as he gathered garbage in his yard on March 1. hbbd```b``>"gk`G`vd "Y rdle`bd`u$300 * Youre probably going to get tased in a second, because you have a weapon, Smyly told Atkinson before brandishing his handgun. Atkinson then raised his voice, causing the officer to become threatened by the trash grabber, according to the report. The Boulder City Council has also created a task force to study police oversight. He currently heads the SPIRIT.ED column for Cassius Life, which focuses on adult beverages and their history. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd . %%EOF The findings likely would have resulted in suspension or possible termination, according to the department. Youre on my property with a gun in your hand, threatening to shoot me because Im picking up trash, the man said to the officer. Smyly resigned on May 15, before the conclusion of the disciplinary process. Follow @dlchandler123 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 Boulder on March 1, the Boulder Daily Camera reports. Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. But none of those officers, including Smyly, pointed their weapons at Atkinson, the report found. Miller, along with Beret Strong (Engl83) and John Tweedy (Engl82), are sparking important conversations about race and inclusion with their film This Is [Not] Who We Are, which explores the disconnect between Boulder's self-proclaimed commitment to diversity and Black residents lived experiences. Video of the incident from Smyly's body camera shows him detaining . He said he has had trouble sleeping since and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. Police body camera footage released Thursday . The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. Atkinson's attorney, Denver-based civil rights attorney Siddhartha Rathod, said that Boulder was using taxpayer dollars to reward Smyly for racially profiling his client and putting Atkinson in fear for his life. 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. By Breanna . When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly escalates the situation. Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. One officer can be seen holding a rifle; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags. Embattled NC sheriff resigns again before DA details accusations against him in court. We do not know the motive of the officer on why he approached this black man. Atkinson, who is black and said after the incident that he felt he was racially profiled, showed Smyly, who is white, his student identification card, but the officer said he needed needed further proof. 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. Film is the tool you can use to help other people say what they need to say, said Strong. 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. "I don't have a weapon. Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. Boulder officials conducted an investigation of the March incident of officer John Smyly confronting Zayd Atkinson outside his home. 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. 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. As part of his resignation agreement, Smyly will officially end his employment with Boulder on Feb. 9, 2020 after using his accrued floating holiday leave, sick and permitted administrative leave. {mosads}While the finding likely would have resulted in suspension or possibly termination, Officer Smyly resigned prior to the conclusion of the disciplinary process, the statement said. [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. (Siddhartha Rathod via AP) Body camera footage released Thursday provided a full video account of the tense encounter, which gained national attention based on video shot by someone inside the building. 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. "If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. After about eight minutes, more Boulder police officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. Police body camera footage released Thursday provided a full video account of . 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 . Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, executive summary of the internal affairs investigation, body camera videos, police report and dispatch tapes, Activists call for citizen review board after Boulder officers detain black man. 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. The city of Bouldersaid in a statement Thursday that officer John Smyly violated multiple department policies when heconfrontedZayd Atkinson, 26, in March. The Boulder County Sheriff complaint line - 303-441-1759 A white Colorado police officer who confronted 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. Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong.Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. Officer Smyly drew his gun and called in backup during the confrontation in March. The Boulder police officer who confronted a black Naropa student picking up trash outside his residence in March was . The film "This Is Not Who We Are" includes the testimonials of several black Boulder . 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. 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 . In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. is a native Washingtonian and resides in the Greater Washington area. All Rights Reserved. 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. Youre on my property with a gun in your hand, threatening to shoot me because Im picking up trash, Atkinson said. Under a settlement with the department, Mr Smyly will stay on the city payroll until February 2020. Call and let them know that by hiring officers who have a history of racial profiling, they are contributing to the racist culture of policing. Check out footage of the exchange between Smyly and Atkinson. Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. 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. Alumni Association All Rights Reserved. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WYFF-TV. Watch: Police confront black man in his own yard. 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. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. The Associated Press reports he will earn benefits and a salary during this time and will be compensated for any unused holiday he accrues. 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. Officer quits after pulling gun on black college student picking up trash outside dorm. Smyly was allowed to resign, and is likely working for another department at this time. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. Now, 15 years later, Miller is once again using documentary film as a vehicle for social change. City Attorney Tom Carr said firing Smyly would have led to a drawn-out appeal and potentially allowed him to keep his job. It can be a great influencer, and Ive always known that there are certain issues in the world I want to address and the best medium to do that, for me, was film.. How many strikeouts did John Smiley have? 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. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? 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. He has led this program for nine seasons, earning five bowl berths, and in 2018 guiding the team to its first appearance in the AP Top 25's final rankings in 22 years. WEST POINT, N.Y. Army head coach Jeff Monken is giving a history lesson. 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. Since Live PD and Cops was cancelled, James Freeman does LIVE STREAMING COP WATCHES. Supervised 25 different police officer trainees, evaluating job performance and developing training plans to encourage professional growth and improve deficiencies. Now, the creators are fielding requests to screen the film in Boulder and beyond; theyre also creating accompanying study guides to help people understand and discuss the themes depicted in the film. 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. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. Colorado police confront man picking up trash on his lawn. It was a frightening experience. He is not allowed to be reinstated to the Boulder Police Department. Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. Shortly before 8:30 a.m. on that day, Officer John Smyly spotted Atkinson sitting in a partially enclosed patio area directly behind a "Private Property" sign and spoke to him to find out if he . John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! Atkinson repeats he's provided his identification but Smyly wants more proof. The man he tried to bully and intimidate, Zayde Atkinson, NEVER gave in. More officers -- 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn. 400 0 obj <> endobj It's like Live PD, except actually live, and without the \"cops can do no wrong\" bias.music in this videoLove Is Blind (Instrumental Version) - Coma Svenssonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u78BBpHcz44Wasted Education - Blue Topazhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqmKzeeDj54 Smyly is resigning but will "exhaust" his paid leave. The city on Thursday announced the settlement but did not include the terms in a news release. Im picking up trash! City officials said the investigation could not prove that Smyly acted because of Atkinsons race. "The city of Boulder is paying this officer nearly $80,000 [71,500] for violating the constitutional rights of Zayd," he said. 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. The officer "did not have authority to detain Mr Atkinson", the department wrote in their report. This Is [Not] Who We Are won a prestigious Peoples Choice Award when it premiered at the Boulder International Film Festival in March, and after the screening, scores of people eagerly participated in a call-to-action discussion session. The shepherd boy, the wolf and the threat to Israeli democracy. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019. Details of the payment amount were included in the City Council agenda packet released Thursday evening ahead of its . Atkinson, who was holding a trash picker at the time, then told Smyly that he both lived and worked there before giving the officer his ID card. Its a facilitation. IE 11 is not supported. This is a clamp.. Mr. Rathod is correct. The independent review, conducted by former U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, Bob Troyer, will soon be released by the city. Kazeem Oyeneyin answers the door at his home in Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 17. 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. While we have no proof racial bias was a motivating factor, the internal affairs investigation resulted in sustained violations of police policies.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. "Boulder is essentially saying, 'We're going to pay this officer and let him resign for threatening Zayd's life, for racially profiling Zayd,'" Rathod told The Associated Press. . 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 . At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. The city was being "disingenuous with the public" and "using taxpayer dollars to pay this officer," he added. Officer John Smyly. "That means you can do whatever you want and break the law and get away with it.". Most young women are not. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, The Associated Press reports he will earn benefits and a salary during this time, The officer "did not have authority to detain Mr Atkinson", the department wrote in their report, US police accused of beating black officer, Bank calls police over black man's cheque, Mr Atkinson told local broadcaster CBS4 Denver, The student's lawyer, Siddhartha Rathod, told local newspaper the Denver Post that he was disappointed Mr Smyly had not been fired, Harry and Meghan told to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage, Explosive found in check-in luggage at US airport, Fungus case forces Jack Daniels to halt construction, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, Dozens of girls treated after new Iran poisonings, Havana Syndrome unlikely to have hostile cause - US.
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