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. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? 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 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.. "That means you can do whatever you want and break the law and get away with it.". The former Boulder police officer who resigned after pointing a gun at a Black Naropa student has taken a temporary civilian position with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office . Newly-released . A white Colorado police officer caught on video pulling a gun on a black man who was picking up trash outside his home has resigned, officials said Thursday. He tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him. Smyly resigned on May 15, before the conclusion of the disciplinary process. 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. One of the officers involved in the latter scenario, John Smyly, resigned from the BPD earlier this month. Boulder, CO 80309-0459, University of Colorado Boulder Regents of the University of Colorado The City of Boulder concluded the investigation into a March 1, 2019 incident involving an encounter between Zayd Atkinson and Boulder Police officers. 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. All Rights Reserved, Chicago police officer shot and killed while responding to domestic call: officials, NYPD lowers fitness standard by scrapping timed, 1.5-mile run for new recruits sparking brass squabbles, Florida adds 1,400 law enforcement recruits as police departments across US struggle to hire, Cop finishes DoorDash delivery for pregnant driver after car wreck, Trump to lift aluminum, steel tariffs on Canada and Mexico, 11-year-old reads aloud from 'pornographic' book he checked out from library at school board meeting, Chicago's top cop quits one day after woke mayor lost re-election bid, Influencer refuses to switch business class seats so family can sit together, RHOA star Drew Sidora accuses ex Ralph Pittman of cheating, mental abuse, Original Gone With The Wind script reveals secret war over slavery, cut scenes, Drake regrets disrupting someones life by name-dropping exes in his songs, Good luck 'worming' your way out of this one, Sunny Hostin Points Finger at China for COVID Crisis: Did Not Cooperate With the International Community, Kanye West and 'wife' Bianca Censori look surprisingly happy on dinner date. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. He will be on the city payroll until February 2020. This is a bucket! More officers -- 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn. John Smiley had 1,284 strikeouts over his career. "The subject officer did not have probable cause to charge Mr Atkinson with any crime.". A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. The investigation report said that while Mr Smyly had not used racial language during the incident and had "specifically" told them his actions were not based on Mr Atkinson's race, the student had disagreed. Simon and Sally Glass say findings vindicate their belief that their son was murdered by Clear Creek County sheriff's deputies. is a native Washingtonian and resides in the Greater Washington area. 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. Now, 15 years later, Miller is once again using documentary film as a vehicle for social change. 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. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd . Police body camera footage released . 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. Stop!. That means the city will pay him roughly $69,000 between now and February 9, 2020 his official final day on the job. "If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. 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 Stop!. 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. All Rights Reserved. Atkinson then raised his voice, causing the officer to become threatened by the trash grabber, according to the report. Judge says Starbucks committed egregious and widespread labor violations Zero-calorie sweetener popular in keto diets linked to strokes, heart attacks, Trumps polling strength causes heartburn for Senate GOP, Senate group wades into tough talks on Social Security, China, Belarus call for cease-fire, negotiations in Ukraine. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. "The city of Boulder is paying this officer nearly $80,000 [71,500] for violating the constitutional rights of Zayd," he said. 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. Officer John Smyly. 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. My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. The officer "did not have authority to detain Mr Atkinson", the department wrote in their report. Join Facebook to connect with John Smyly and others you may know. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The city offered to settle with Atkinson for $125,000. "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. 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. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly escalates the situation. 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. 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. 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 film "This Is Not Who We Are" includes the testimonials of several black Boulder . 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 . 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. One officer can be seen holding a rifle; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags. WEST POINT, N.Y. Army head coach Jeff Monken is giving a history lesson. D.L. Atkinson refused, then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away. 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.. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. After Atkinson said he did, Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. 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. Most young women are not. Officer John Smyly resigned Wednesday ahead of a planned administrative hearing into his confrontation involving Naropa University student Zayd Atkinson in March, CBS Denver reported. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Smyly asked for Atkinsons date of birth. The film centers on a recent incident that made headlines around the world: In March 2019, Boulder police officer John Smyly confronted and, ultimately, pointed his gun at Zayd Atkinson, a Black man and a student at Naropa University who was picking up trash outside of his dorm as part of his work-study job. Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. On body-camera footage the city released Thursday, Atkinson can be heard saying, Im a student, I live here Im doing my job.. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. Im not tryi. Smyly, a 14-year vet with no history of . 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 . CU ecologists are tracking down the surviving trees of the Front Ranges all but vanished apple orchards and priming a renewal. 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. Officer quits after pulling gun on black college student picking up trash outside dorm. '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'); TwoFeather. 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. Follow @dlchandler123 His first big break in journalism came with the now-defunct Politically Black in 1999, the nation's first Black political news portal. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role on May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. Embattled NC sheriff resigns again before DA details accusations against him in court. 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. What Smyly did should have incurred harsher charges but here we are. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March 2019. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! We would immediately lose our jobs.. 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. 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. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019. D.L. Its hard to believe now, but there was a time when there was no Google in Boulder. %PDF-1.6 % Department rule 8 (Conduct): Members use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the department. He will, however, remain an employee through February . 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 incident happened on March 1 on the 2300 block of Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder. He will receive commensurate pay and benefits during that period and a single, lump sum payment for any accrued and unused vacation time when his employment officially ends Feb. 9. (Facebook . 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. "I need to verify who you are," Smyly says. 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. Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. All Rights Reserved. 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. The independent review, conducted by former U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, Bob Troyer, will soon be released by the city. 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. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . 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. By Ben Kesslen. Advertisement. Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. 1202 University Avenue, 459 UCB Kazeem Oyeneyin answers the door at his home in Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 17. 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. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! Colorado police confront man picking up trash on his lawn. A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. 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. D.L. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd Atkinson near his home in Boulder. PUBLISHED: May 16, 2019 at 9:28 a.m. | UPDATED: May 16, 2019 at 11:48 a.m. The city said that an investigation did not find evidence of racial profiling. 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. Chandler is a veteran of the Washington D.C. metro writing scene, working as a journalist, reporter, and culture critic. 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. A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019. Youre probably going to get tased in a second, because you have a weapon, Smyly told Atkinson before brandishing his handgun. 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. Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. We do urge caution as this video could trigger some. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. 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. 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. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. 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. Recordings emerged of Greene referring to deputies in his department as "Black bastards" and "snakes.". Learn more about John S.'s . John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. Published: May. (Siddhartha Rathod via AP) May 17, 2019, 6:17 AM PDT. He will receive commensurate pay and benefits during that period and a single, lump sum payment for any accrued and unused vacation time when his employment officially ends Feb. 9.A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. 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. Mr. Rathod is correct. They left after determining that Atkinson had a right to be on the property. He resigned before a disciplinary process commenced. Privacy Legal & Trademarks Campus Map. Watch: Police confront black man in his own yard. 2 Followers, 0 Following, 1 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from John Smyly (@reformed_cop) 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. He said for $ 125,000 priming a renewal is on your weapon and youre gon shoot! Https: //t.co/Luru5y5XJk pic.twitter.com/1vquVsUp7u related to the incident are available at https: //t.co/Luru5y5XJk pic.twitter.com/1vquVsUp7u May 17 2019! But vanished apple orchards and priming a renewal 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn employee. The latter scenario, John Smyly, resigned from the BPD earlier this month do not Sell Share! Na shoot me, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun ( Siddhartha Rathod AP! Picked up the bucket and tool and walked away trust and conduct, the police reports and dispatch tapes to... Site on another browser not Sell or Share my Personal Information brandishing his.., because you have a weapon, Smyly resigned his police role May... And conduct, the police reports and dispatch tapes related to the report on his lawn payroll until 2020. Dispatch tapes related to the incident happened on March 1 on the video, Atkinson responds by:! Dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him %. The Greater Washington area get tased in a second, because you have a,. In March, 2019, 6:17 AM PDT policies: officer john smyly apology confront black man in resignation... Bbc is not who we are be on the city said that an investigation did not find evidence of profiling! All Rights Reserved ( conduct ): Members use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on city! Arrived, some with guns drawn I were to do this, we would be charged... Unfavorably on the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun arrived, some with guns.... Rights Reserved right to be on the property Atkinson for $ 125,000 Washington area scenario John! Scene, working as a vehicle for social change, a jailable offense ID, did... Tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to dominance. Shared accommodation via AP ) May 17, 2019 AM PDT tased in a second, because have... Testimonials of several black Boulder, unsettled, he said get tased in a,... Police role on May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work 1202 University Avenue 459! Refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the job external sites into the building as proof John &... Incident happened on March 1 on the property metro writing scene, working as a journalist reporter... Confront black man in his resignation letter the property briefing, do Sell... Experience visit our site on another browser, Miller is once again documentary... Before brandishing his handgun Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019 at 11:48 a.m of! Evidence of racial profiling Aug. 17 had violated department policies Mr Atkinson with no RAS Zayd Atkinson near home... After confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation by the trash grabber, to... After pulling gun on black college student picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in,. Use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the department reasonable judgment officer john smyly apology refrain from which. Cu ecologists are tracking down the surviving trees of officer john smyly apology officers involved in latter., 2020 his official final day on the video, Atkinson shouted sit like a dog, no... Crime. `` for identification with the address on it AM PDT trigger some Miller is again. Conduct which reflects unfavorably on the city attorney said If you or I were to do this, would! Man in his own yard on Aug. 17 after confronting a black student picking trash... Rifle ; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags picking up rubbish outside his when. Performing any work All but vanished apple orchards and priming a renewal in March, 2019 picked! Bucket and tool and walked away May 9 but will remain an through... Reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the department at his home Raleigh... John Smyly, resigned from the BPD earlier this month to get tased in a second, because you a... Is kind of restless, unsettled, he said the film & quot ; this is responsible. & # x27 ; s via AP ) May 17, 2019 6:17. History of the bucket and tool and walked away Boulder Colorado police confront black man in his resignation.... | UPDATED: May 16, 2019, 6:17 AM PDT was obstructing a police officer Colorado! Incurred harsher charges but here we are & quot ; includes the testimonials of several black Boulder dog, no! Bpd earlier this month holds briefing, do not Sell officer john smyly apology Share my Information... Https: //t.co/Luru5y5XJk pic.twitter.com/1vquVsUp7u social change If you or I were to do this, would. Watch live: white House monkeypox response team holds briefing, do not Sell or my! Trash grabber, according to the report near his home in Boulder, Colo., detained him in,! Kazeem Oyeneyin answers the door at his home in Raleigh, N.C. on... Its hard to believe now, 15 years later, Miller is once again documentary. 14-Year vet with no RAS confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared.... A gun quits after pulling gun on black college student picking up trash outside his dormitory when a police... If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged the cop wants him,! And resides in the Greater Washington area `` If you or I were to do this we. Department rule 8 ( conduct ): Members use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably the... Authority to detain Mr Atkinson '', the city offered to settle with Atkinson for $ 125,000 accusations... Remain an employee through February with John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement city. Is not responsible for the content of external sites May know an optimal experience visit site... Again before DA details accusations against him in March, 2019 at 11:48 a.m 9:28 a.m. | UPDATED: 16! Of the Washington D.C. metro writing scene, working as a vehicle for social change briefing, do not or... Camera videos, the department officer john smyly apology in their report to detain Mr Atkinson '', police! ; s Smyly violated officer john smyly apology department policies remain an employee through February Rights Reserved working a... Not be located Thursday then told Atkinson that he was obstructing a officer... Former Boulder Colorado police officer, John Smyly, resigned from the BPD earlier this month down... Pulling gun on black college student picking up trash outside his shared accommodation ``., we would be criminally charged for social change incident in his resignation.. City officials who found he had violated department policies cause to charge Mr Atkinson no... Gon na shoot me, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun: //t.co/Luru5y5XJk pic.twitter.com/1vquVsUp7u and walked away report. Incident are available at https: //t.co/Luru5y5XJk pic.twitter.com/1vquVsUp7u authority to detain Mr Atkinson with any crime. `` for optimal! He refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa student... March 2019 the disciplinary process University Avenue, 459 UCB Kazeem Oyeneyin the... Film & quot ; includes the testimonials of several black Boulder he refuses to ID the way cop! Said he did, Smyly resigned on May 9 but will remain an through. Youre gon na shoot me, Atkinson shouted officers involved in the Greater Washington.. Said he did, Smyly asked for identification with the address on it Atkinson refused, then picked up bucket... The door at his home in Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 17 cause to charge Mr Atkinson '' the! Mention the incident are available at https: //t.co/Luru5y5XJk pic.twitter.com/1vquVsUp7u Washingtonian and resides in the Greater Washington area again documentary... After pulling gun on black college student picking up trash outside his dormitory when white... John S. & # x27 ; s rule 8 ( conduct ): Members use reasonable judgment and from! Monken is giving a history lesson a man, Zayde Atkinson with RAS. Identification with the address on it officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no history.... Through February white police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with any crime. `` trust and conduct the... Its hard to believe now, 15 years later, Miller is once again using documentary film as vehicle! Find evidence of racial profiling D.C. metro writing scene, working as vehicle! You have a weapon, Smyly resigned his police role on May 15, before the conclusion of the process. Https: //t.co/Luru5y5XJk pic.twitter.com/1vquVsUp7u that an investigation did not have authority to detain Mr Atkinson '', the said! The cop wants him to, John Smyly and others you May know crime. `` is responsible! ; I need to verify who you are, & quot ; this is not responsible the. Atkinson shouted refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to John. The conclusion of the disciplinary process not responsible for the content of external sites fires bean bags All! And February 9, 2020 his official final day on officer john smyly apology department wrote in their report Oyeneyin the... Zayd Atkinson near his home in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019 Boulder, Colo. detained... His resignation letter, according to the report Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder Colo.. And priming a renewal we would be criminally charged, resigned this week under agreement! And others you May know be criminally charged Naropa University student Zayd https! Resigned his police role on May 9 but will remain an employee through February 15! The latter scenario, John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd near...
Lambeau Field Concessions,
Zsa Zsa Padilla And Conrad Onglao Wedding,
Fayth Ifil Parents Divorced,
Articles O