17, 2019 at 1:00 PM PDT. 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. 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. 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. 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. City council is set to approve the payout during a special Monday night meeting, the only non . 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. 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. Smyly is a 14-year department veteran was found in violation of two department policies. 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 . is a native Washingtonian and resides in the Greater Washington area. Smyly . Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role on May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. }, 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. 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. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with . /9YmNx7|:900w40e =:(xe:`L01[ J @45aG1V !@ %ISB&=@I!IB=@w30=s Mr Smyly attempted to detain Mr Atkinson . The confrontation between Smyly and Atkinsonsparked massive backlash in the community. A Colorado police officer who detained a black man picking up trash in his yard is resigning after being found in violation of department policies. He will, however, remain an employee through February . A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. 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. hb```*f A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. We've received your submission. Its a facilitation. (Siddhartha Rathod via AP) 1 of 2. My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. 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. While we have no proof racial bias was a motivating factor, the internal affairs investigation resulted in sustained violations of police policies.. Thats what youre gonna do officer? By Ben Kesslen. Atkinson echoed Rathod's remarks in an interview with Denver7. 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. Follow @dlchandler123 The city offered to settle with Atkinson for $125,000. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in . 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 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 . The city on Thursday announced the settlement but did not include the terms in a news release. 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. 2023 BBC. KQ)csp W,M=--I3&\(4lPb&[ May 16, 2019 / 5:17 PM / CBS Colorado. John Smiley had 1,284 strikeouts over his career. 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. 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. 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. Boulder Police Officer John Smyly quit . The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. A Colorado police officer, John Smyly resigned after an incident he had with a local resident where he approached this black man who was picking up trash around the residency he lived at. 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. A documentary at this year's Denver Film Festival is challenging the City of Boulder's inclusive reputation. 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. Learn more about John S.'s . Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong.Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. But an independent review of the confrontation found no impropriety in the procedures . 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. Youre probably going to get tased in a second, because you have a weapon, Smyly told Atkinson before brandishing his handgun. Facebook gives people the power to share. Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Boulder police officer who confronted a black Naropa student picking up trash outside his residence in March was . And then you make it beautiful, you hope, so that lots of people are moved by it and want to engage with it. Boulder PD releases body camera footage, reports. Smyly was allowed to resign, and is likely working for another department at this time. 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. View the profiles of people named John Smyly. 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. "I need to verify who you are," Smyly says. 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. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Atkinson and BPD patrol officer John Smyly (and, subsequently, other responding officers) ("the Incident"). We would immediately lose our jobs.. 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 . 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.. Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. After Atkinson said he did, Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. Based on the investigation, the Boulder Police Department will start additional training on de-escalation efforts for officers. 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. Police body camera footage released Thursday provided a full video account of . !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to tase him. What Smyly did should have incurred harsher charges but here we are. 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. Smyly resigned on May 15, before the conclusion of the disciplinary process. Atkinson asked for Smylys supervisor several times during the footage and a total of eight officers and a sergeant responded to the scene. Officer quits after pulling gun on black college student picking up trash outside dorm. 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. Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. Smyly attempted to detain Atkinson, a student at Naropa University in Boulder, asking him to prove he lived on the property. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March 2019. Im picking up trash! Carr said investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct. Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. 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. 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. Atkinson then raised his voice, causing the officer to become threatened by the trash grabber, according to the report. hbbd```b``>"gk`G`vd "Y rdle`bd`u$300 * Mr. Atkinson turned, took out his ear buds, and asked what was going on. He tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him. Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. {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. 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 incident happened on March 1 on the 2300 block of Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder. (Facebook . They left after determining that Atkinson had a right to be on the property. 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. 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. We have concluded this hire was not helpful to our equity work, and I wish . 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. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd . 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. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! 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. This is a bucket! Officer Smyly . 400 0 obj <> endobj We do urge caution as this video could trigger some. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. 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. 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. Everyone really needs to open their eyes to all the truths of their community so we can fix it.. 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 The shepherd boy, the wolf and the threat to Israeli democracy. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! 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 . 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. Under a settlement with the department, Mr Smyly will stay on the city payroll until February 2020. Smyly then detained Atkinson for further investigation,which prompted Atkinson to grow frustrated. Atkinson also told ABC Newss Good Morning America in April that hes been struggling with stress and trauma since the encounter. City Attorney Tom Carr said firing Smyly would have led to a drawn-out appeal and potentially allowed him to keep his job. Such is the case of Boulder, Colo., police officer John Smyly over his interaction with Zayd Atkinson on March 1st this year. He is likely employed at a different police department at this time. Simon and Sally Glass say findings vindicate their belief that their son was murdered by Clear Creek County sheriff's deputies. Smyly, a 14-year vet with no history of . If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Stop!. October 1, 2020. Smyly next asked for Atkinsons date of birth. Most young women are not. 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. Privacy Legal & Trademarks Campus Map. Smyly reportedly asked Atkinson if he was permitted to be at the location. A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. 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. covers a variety of topics including breaking news, politics, Hip-Hop music and culture, fashion, and Black history. %%EOF "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. endstream endobj 401 0 obj <. Drought, dry grass and gusting winds lead to wildfire. The city added that Smyly resigned before the city concluded an investigation into the incident. How many strikeouts did John Smiley have? 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