Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. City council is set to approve the payout during a special Monday night meeting, the only non . When demonstrators took to the streets to show support for Atkinson and protest racism, the filmmakers grabbed their cameras and got to work. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. 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. 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. Atkinson echoed Rathod's remarks in an interview with Denver7. This is a clamp.. Officer Smyly got his attention and asked him to stop. In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. Atkinson also told ABC Newss Good Morning America in April that hes been struggling with stress and trauma since the encounter. I thought that once the firearm was out that that meant that he was going to try to kill me, Atkinson said. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police . Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. 2023 BBC. 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. 1202 University Avenue, 459 UCB If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. covers a variety of topics including breaking news, politics, Hip-Hop music and culture, fashion, and Black history. 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. Atkinson then raised his voice, causing the officer to become threatened by the trash grabber, according to the report. 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 findings likely would have resulted in suspension or possible termination, according to the department. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. May 16, 2019, 9:54 PM. 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. He will, however, remain an employee through February . Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. 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. Police body camera footage released Thursday . He resigned before a disciplinary process commenced. During the incident the man gave officers his university ID and said repeatedly that he lived and worked at the shared occupancy building. "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. 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]. 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 PD releases body camera footage, reports. Boulder, CO 80309-0459, University of Colorado Boulder Regents of the University of Colorado We would immediately lose our jobs.. The city said that an investigation did not find evidence of racial profiling. The city added that Smyly resigned before the city concluded an investigation into the incident. The City of Boulder concluded the investigation into a March 1, 2019 incident involving an encounter between Zayd Atkinson and Boulder Police officers. "I need to verify who you are," Smyly says. 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.. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Alumni Association Smyly attempted to detain Atkinson, a student at Naropa University in Boulder, asking him to prove he lived on the property. 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. }, 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. By Breanna . 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. When demonstrators took to the . (Siddhartha Rathod via AP) 1 of 2. 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. Atkinson asked for Smylys supervisor several times during the footage and a total of eight officers and a sergeant responded to the scene. Youre on my property with a gun in your hand, threatening to shoot me because Im picking up trash, Atkinson said. Kazeem Oyeneyin answers the door at his home in Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 17. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly escalates the situation. Check out footage of the exchange between Smyly and Atkinson. has worked in the past for MTV News, Billboard, and several other publications. 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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. (Facebook . Film is the tool you can use to help other people say what they need to say, said Strong. Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the buildings rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. John Smiley was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 12th round of the 1983 MLB June Amateur Draft from Perkiomen School (Pennsburg, PA). Thats what youre gonna do, officer? Associated Press / May 17, 2019. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! But an independent review of the confrontation found no impropriety in the procedures . He said Boulder either lacks the ability or will to root out racism from this police department. 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. {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. 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. As Atkinson attempted to continue to pick up trash, Smyly told him, Youre probably going to get tased, and eventually pulled out his gun, claiming Atkinsons trash grabber could be used as a weapon. We do not know the motive of the officer on why he approached this black man. %PDF-1.6 % The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. The man he tried to bully and intimidate, Zayde Atkinson, NEVER gave in. Simon and Sally Glass say findings vindicate their belief that their son was murdered by Clear Creek County sheriff's deputies. A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The officer "did not have authority to detain Mr Atkinson", the department wrote in their report. Smyly asked for Atkinsons date of birth. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinson's race. May 17, 2019, 6:17 AM PDT. Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. 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. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. Authorities also released body camera footage from officers at the scene. Officer quits after pulling gun on black college student picking up trash outside dorm. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Smyly . Atkinsons attorney, Siddhartha Rathod, said he thinks Smyly is getting off too easy. On body-camera footage the city released Thursday, Atkinson can be heard saying, Im a student, I live here Im doing my job.. (Siddhartha Rathod via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Most young men are single. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. 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. 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. Im not tryi. Based on the investigation, the Boulder Police Department will start additional training on de-escalation efforts for officers. 418 0 obj <>stream He is not allowed to be reinstated to the Boulder Police Department. 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 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. We have concluded this hire was not helpful to our equity work, and I wish . What position did John Smiley play? We've received your submission. 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. My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. Atkinson refused then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away. 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. 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. Atkinson and BPD patrol officer John Smyly (and, subsequently, other responding officers) ("the Incident"). Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. 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. Its a facilitation. "That means you can do whatever you want and break the law and get away with it.". The Boulder City Council has also created a task force to study police oversight. Agreement, Smyly resigned his police role May 9 but will remain employee. America in April that hes been struggling with stress officer john smyly apology trauma since the.! 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