We have concluded this hire was not helpful to our equity work, and I wish . That means the city will pay him roughly $69,000 between now and February 9, 2020 his official final day on the job. The city was being "disingenuous with the public" and "using taxpayer dollars to pay this officer," he added. If you have information about the department Smyly is working for now, please email the information to realjamesfreeman@gmail.com, so I can publish it, warning potential new victims of his presence. 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. He is not allowed to be reinstated to the Boulder Police Department. Im picking up trash, and youre holding a gun!. Boulder officials conducted an investigation of the March incident of officer John Smyly confronting Zayd Atkinson outside his home. Im picking up trash! In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. Simon and Sally Glass say findings vindicate their belief that their son was murdered by Clear Creek County sheriff's deputies. We would immediately lose our jobs.. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. 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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. Based on the investigation, the Boulder Police Department will start additional training on de-escalation efforts for officers. A big reason why I got into film and video is because of the storytelling aspect, said Miller. 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. Smyly drew his stun gun 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. KATHLEEN FOODY. D.L. The city said that an investigation did not find evidence of racial profiling. Smyly is a 14-year department veteran was found in violation of two department policies. 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 . And then you make it beautiful, you hope, so that lots of people are moved by it and want to engage with it. 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. 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. John Smiley was a Pitcher. 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. 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. Facebook gives people the power to share. "The city of Boulder is paying this officer nearly $80,000 [71,500] for violating the constitutional rights of Zayd," he said. 0 These four House Republicans broke with the GOP to oppose inflation estimates McCarthy, GOP pump brakes on release of Jan. 6 footage to Tucker Carlson. Mr Smyly attempted to detain Mr Atkinson . 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. After about eight minutes, more Boulder police officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. If you know what department Smyly is working it, please email that information to realjamesfreeman@gmail.com, so I can publicly publish that information, warning potential new victims.ID Refusal by Boulder Colorado man, Zayde Atkinson results in threats and officer John Smyly brandishing a fire arm.email videos you want covered on this channel to Realjamesfreeman@gmail.com James Freeman does first amendment audits, cop watching, cop blocking, and more. "I don't have a weapon! May 16, 2019, 9:54 PM. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March 2019. @dlchandler123. covers a variety of topics including breaking news, politics, Hip-Hop music and culture, fashion, and Black history. Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. 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. A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. 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. In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. PUBLISHED: May 16, 2019 at 9:28 a.m. | UPDATED: May 16, 2019 at 11:48 a.m. Most young women are not. His first big break in journalism came with the now-defunct Politically Black in 1999, the nation's first Black political news portal. The Boulder City Council has also created a task force to study police oversight. 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. 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. 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. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. 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. More officers -- 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn. %%EOF All Rights Reserved. The independent review, conducted by former U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, Bob Troyer, will soon be released by the city. 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. Boulder police launch an internal investigation after a video surfaces showing officers confronting an African American man picking up trash in Boulder, Colorado. 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 subject officer did not have probable cause to charge Mr Atkinson with any crime.". Maybe he got a suspicious call or saw something but things escalated. 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. 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 . 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. 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. We do urge caution as this video could trigger some. Alumni Association Department rule 8 (Conduct): Members use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the department. Officer quits after pulling gun on black college student picking up trash outside dorm. Follow @dlchandler123 418 0 obj <>stream Colorado police officer John Smyly who pulled his gun on Zayd Atkinson, a student at Naropa University picking up trash in front of his apartment building, has resigned. endstream endobj 401 0 obj <. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. He tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him. 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. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd Atkinson near his home in Boulder. Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. Privacy Legal & Trademarks Campus Map. 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. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. In a settlement, Smyly lost his gig but still will collect $69,000 in salary and wont see a blemish on his work record. 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. Smyly asked for Atkinsons date of birth. 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. On March 1 st, 2019, Officer John Smyly was conducting patrols when he saw Atkinson seated on a bench of the building that said "private property."Smyly approaches Atkinson as he sits on the bench to ask if he resides in the building. A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. View the profiles of people named John Smyly. 411 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[400 19]/Info 399 0 R/Length 74/Prev 280568/Root 401 0 R/Size 419/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Despite the documentarys bleak outlook, the filmmakers remain optimistic, due in large part to the positive reception of the film so far. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Join Facebook to connect with John Smyly and others you may know. The confrontation between Smyly and Atkinsonsparked massive backlash in the community. The findings likely would have resulted in suspension or possible termination, according to the department. Im picking up trash and youre holding a gun!. 1202 University Avenue, 459 UCB A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd . Friday, March 13, 2020 (Updated Monday, March 16) The city of Boulder is offering a $125,000 settlement to Zayd Atkinson, the black Naropa student who was confronted by armed police officers last year while picking up trash outside his home. John Smiley had 1,284 strikeouts over his career. 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 . October 1, 2020. Millers video didnt make it out of the classroom (though her peers did give her a standing ovation), but Miller never forgot the pride and passion she felt drawing attention to injustice. One of the officers involved in the latter scenario, John Smyly, resigned from the BPD earlier this month. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. window.addEventListener( 'loadOrInteraction', function() { "That means you can do whatever you want and break the law and get away with it.". 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. 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. The body camera videos, the police reports and dispatch tapes related to the incident are available at https://t.co/Luru5y5XJk pic.twitter.com/1vquVsUp7u. The film "This Is Not Who We Are" includes the testimonials of several black Boulder . 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. 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. 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". They left after determining that Atkinson had a right to be on the property. Thats what youre gonna do officer? More broadly, they hope as many people as possible will view the documentary and join us in trying to be the community that we want to be, Miller said. When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to tase him. 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. Its hard to believe now, but there was a time when there was no Google in Boulder. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! Im not tryi. 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. 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. Atkinson refused, then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away. When demonstrators took to the streets to show support for Atkinson and protest racism, the filmmakers grabbed their cameras and got to work. What position did John Smiley play? Youre gonna shoot a resident on his property for picking up trash?, An investigative summary said Smyly drew his gun when the two men reached the back of the building. When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to . @O $6(|a*P`t@dLYYo&$ ()lTA johhUCWLe8*%BsS@35,\4'Jaqm>$BlvR6 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. 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. The city added that Smyly was allowed to resign, and is likely working for another department at this time. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? During the incident the man gave officers his university ID and said repeatedly that he lived and worked at the shared occupancy building. }, 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. "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. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. 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. The settlement allowed the city to provide the community information more quickly, and it transitioned Officer Smyly out of a law enforcement career, he said. After about eight minutes, more officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. Officer Smyly drew his gun and called in backup during the confrontation in March. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. Film is the tool you can use to help other people say what they need to say, said Strong. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019. By Breanna . The shepherd boy, the wolf and the threat to Israeli democracy. Carr said investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct. 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. 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. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WYFF-TV. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. Stop!. 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. Though National Geographic may have named Boulder the happiest city in America in 2017, that description is more true for some residents than others, the filmmakers argue. ABC News noted that other officers arrived on the scene soon after. 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. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with . By Ben Kesslen. Authorities have completed the investigation into a Boulder police officer who tried to detain a black man cleaning trash around his home, and the police department has released all related body camera footage and reports. "If you or I did what Officer Smyly did to Zayd Atkinson, not only would we be immediately fired, we would be criminally prosecuted. "I need to verify who you are," Smyly says. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd . Boulder, CO 80309-0459, University of Colorado Boulder Regents of the University of Colorado "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. D.L. He said he has had trouble sleeping and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smy. 2 Followers, 0 Following, 1 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from John Smyly (@reformed_cop) Officer Smyly . The officer, John Smyly, resigned with a severance package, as the City Council and community members were troubled by the incident. Mr Smyly called for backup because Mr Atkinson was "unwilling to put down a blunt object". Boulder Is the Happiest City in the U.S. For Some, Marshall Fire Devastates CU Boulder Community. Smyly next asked for Atkinsons date of birth. More officers -- 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn. How many strikeouts did John Smiley have? 2023 BBC. 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. 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.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. BOULDER, Colo. -- New video shows the heated encounter that went viral back in March -- a black man confronted by a Boulder police officer while picking up trash in his own yard. My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us.