17, 2019 at 1:00 PM PDT. 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. John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to tase him. 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. 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. Im picking up trash and youre holding a gun!. 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. Officer Smyly got his attention and asked him to stop. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to . Mr Smyly called for backup because Mr Atkinson was "unwilling to put down a blunt object". If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. 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 incident happened on March 1 on the 2300 block of Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder. (Facebook . He said Boulder either lacks the ability or will to root out racism from this police department. "If you or I did what Officer Smyly did to Zayd Atkinson, not only would we be immediately fired, we would be criminally prosecuted. Oyeneyin was handcuffed and detained in his own home after police responded to a burglar alarm in process. Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. All Rights Reserved. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinson's race. 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. We have concluded this hire was not helpful to our equity work, and I wish . Police body camera footage released Thursday provided a full video account of . Zayd Atkinson, a student at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, was picking up garbage outside of his residence when officer John Smyly approached. 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. Atkinsons attorney, meanwhile, said he was upset that Smyly is allowed to stay on the citys payroll for more than eight months. Read about our approach to external linking. Mr Atkinson says in a video taken by a neighbour. 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. 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. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. October 1, 2020. Simon and Sally Glass say findings vindicate their belief that their son was murdered by Clear Creek County sheriff's deputies. 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Mr. Atkinson turned, took out his ear buds, and asked what was going on. 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, according to the new footage. 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.. Department rule 8 (Conduct): Members use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the department. This is a bucket! He said he has had trouble sleeping and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. This is a bucket. 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. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. Smylys resignation comes more than two months after he and other officers confronted Atkinson,a student at Naropa University, at the patio area of his apartment, according to ABC News. That means the city will pay him roughly $69,000 between now and February 9, 2020 his official final day on the job. "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. Alumni Association Mr Smyly attempted to detain Mr Atkinson . 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WYFF-TV. John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. However, Smyly resigned before the investigation concluded. Atkinson asked for Smylys supervisor several times during the footage and a total of eight officers and a sergeant responded to the scene. 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Privacy Legal & Trademarks Campus Map. 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. Watch: Police confront black man in his own yard. 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". Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019. Everyone really needs to open their eyes to all the truths of their community so we can fix it.. Smyly . 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. Cellphone footage shot by a neighbor showed Smyly holding his firearm amid the confrontation. The man he tried to bully and intimidate, Zayde Atkinson, NEVER gave in. We would immediately lose our jobs.". That morning, John Smyly, a Boulder police officer, was driving around the area of Folsom Street and . Atkinson refused, then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away. Facebook gives people the power to share. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . KQ)csp W,M=--I3&\(4lPb&[ Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. 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 . 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. City Attorney Tom Carr said firing Smyly would have led to a drawn-out appeal and potentially allowed him to keep his job. Newly-released . My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smy. }, 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. Most young men are single. Mr. Rathod is correct. Video shows Smyly approaching Atkinson in a partially enclosed patio area behind a private property sign, prompting the officer to ask if the man had a right to be there. 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. 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. Supervised 25 different police officer trainees, evaluating job performance and developing training plans to encourage professional growth and improve deficiencies. 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. I have practiced law for over 28 years, 14 of those years as a federal prosecutor and . 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 In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. After Atkinson said he did, Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. Published: May. Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police . 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. 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. 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. 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 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. Boulder officials conducted an investigation of the March incident of officer John Smyly confronting Zayd Atkinson outside his home. In a statement released on Thursday, The city of Boulder announced that an investigation found that Smyly violated two police 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. The findings likely would have resulted in suspension or possible termination, according to the department. D.L. 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. 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 . To make matters worse, Smyly gets to chill at home with pay until Feb. 9 of next year while Atkinson says hes been plagued with anxiety by way of the trauma of the exchange. Smyly is a 14-year department veteran was found in violation of two department policies. The independent review, conducted by former U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, Bob Troyer, will soon be released by the city. 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. ABC News noted that other officers arrived on the scene soon after. He then begins commands for the student to sit down on the pavement . 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. May 16, 2019, 9:54 PM. In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. 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. What position did John Smiley play? 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. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. On body-camera footage the city released Thursday, Atkinson can be heard saying, Im a student, I live here Im doing my job.. 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. But an independent review of the confrontation found no impropriety in the procedures . TwoFeather. A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. 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 . 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 latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. . We've received your submission. Thats what youre gonna do, officer? John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd Atkinson near his home in Boulder. 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. 2 Followers, 0 Following, 1 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from John Smyly (@reformed_cop) Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. How many strikeouts did John Smiley have? Atkinson can be seen holding a bucket and a metal trash grabber. 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. 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. By Breanna . Smyly next asked for Atkinsons date of birth. The officer, John Smyly, resigned with a severance package, as the City Council and community members were troubled by the incident. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March 2019. More officers -- 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn. 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. 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. "If they don't have the ability to terminate racist officers, that's Boulder's problem not taxpayers' problem," Rathod said, pointing to new data that showed black and African-American people in Boulder were more than twice as likely to be arrested during a routine police stop than their white counterparts. 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. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. Chandler is a veteran of the Washington D.C. metro writing scene, working as a journalist, reporter, and culture critic. 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. He currently heads the SPIRIT.ED column for Cassius Life, which focuses on adult beverages and their history. window.addEventListener( 'loadOrInteraction', function() { 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. 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. 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 . Smyly is resigning but will "exhaust" his paid leave. Atkinson also told ABC Newss Good Morning America in April that hes been struggling with stress and trauma since the encounter. The report released with the video 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. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. "I don't have a weapon. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. The city added that In a settlement, Smyly lost his gig but still will collect $69,000 in salary and wont see a blemish on his work record. 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 film "This Is Not Who We Are" includes the testimonials of several black Boulder . 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. Atkinson echoed Rathod's remarks in an interview with Denver7. 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. 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