%%EOF Department rule 8 (Conduct): Members use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the 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. 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. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . 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. Alumni Association We've received your submission. 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. Atkinson asked for Smylys supervisor several times during the footage and a total of eight officers and a sergeant responded to the scene. 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. Carr said investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct. Im picking up trash! Mr Atkinson says in a video taken by a neighbour. Youre on my property with a gun in your hand, threatening to shoot me because Im picking up trash, Atkinson said. Mr Smyly called for backup because Mr Atkinson was "unwilling to put down a blunt object". Smyly asked for Atkinsons date of birth. Colorado police confront man picking up trash on his lawn. 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. Atkinson said he did, and Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. Everyone really needs to open their eyes to all the truths of their community so we can fix it.. 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. 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 . We would immediately lose our jobs.. Atkinson refused then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away. "Boulder is paying this officer nearly $80,000 in taxpayer money, giving him a year's paid vacation for what he did," Rathod said, adding that if any other citizen had done what Smyly did, they would be fired from their job and charged criminally. Its a facilitation. Its hard to believe now, but there was a time when there was no Google in Boulder. 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. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. We would immediately lose our jobs.. Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Officer Smyly . October 1, 2020. Mr Smyly attempted to detain Mr Atkinson . Youre on my property with a gun in your hand, threatening to shoot me because Im picking up trash, the man said to the officer. 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. He will, however, remain an employee through February . 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Video of the incident from Smyly's body camera shows him detaining . covers a variety of topics including breaking news, politics, Hip-Hop music and culture, fashion, and Black history. 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. It feels like they are jumping on this train with me after watching the film and hearing the stories.. 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. He is not allowed to be reinstated to the Boulder Police Department. 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 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. The city said that an investigation did not find evidence of racial profiling. %PDF-1.6 % The Boulder City Council has also created a task force to study police oversight. 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 Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to . The Boulder police officer who confronted a black Naropa student picking up trash outside his residence in March was . Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role on May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. This is a clamp!" Atkinson echoed Rathod's remarks in an interview with Denver7. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in . 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. CU ecologists are tracking down the surviving trees of the Front Ranges all but vanished apple orchards and priming a renewal. We do urge caution as this video could trigger some. "If you or I did what Officer Smyly did to Zayd Atkinson, not only would we be immediately fired, we would be criminally prosecuted. 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. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. While we have no proof racial bias was a motivating factor, the internal affairs investigation resulted in sustained violations of police policies.. Cellphone footage shot by a neighbor showed Smyly holding his firearm amid the confrontation. 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. However, Smyly resigned before the investigation concluded. 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. 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. 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. Mr. Atkinson turned, took out his ear buds, and asked what was going on. View the profiles of people named John Smyly. 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. 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. 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. 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. Zayd Atkinson was picking up trash in his front yard in the 2300 block of Arapahoe Avenue about 8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 1, when Smyly, a 14-year veteran of the department with no background of . Since Live PD and Cops was cancelled, James Freeman does LIVE STREAMING COP WATCHES. 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. 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 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. Boulder Police Department's investigation found Mr Smyly had violated the department's rules on police authority, public trust and conduct. 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. Atkinsons attorney, meanwhile, said he was upset that Smyly is allowed to stay on the citys payroll for more than eight months. Most young men are single. 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. Under a settlement with the department, Mr Smyly will stay on the city payroll until February 2020. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd . ABC News noted that other officers arrived on the scene soon after. 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. hbbd```b``>"gk`G`vd "Y rdle`bd`u$300 * window.addEventListener( 'loadOrInteraction', function() { A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. 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 . On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! The city of Bouldersaid in a statement Thursday that officer John Smyly violated multiple department policies when heconfrontedZayd Atkinson, 26, in March. (Facebook . This is a clamp.. has worked in the past for MTV News, Billboard, and several other publications. 418 0 obj <>stream More officers -- 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn. More officers -- 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn. Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. He said he has had trouble sleeping since and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him.My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said.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.City officials said the investigation could not prove that Smyly acted because of Atkinsons race. Boulder PD releases body camera footage, reports. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. Boulder Police Officer John Smyly quit . John Smiley was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 12th round of the 1983 MLB June Amateur Draft from Perkiomen School (Pennsburg, PA). Authorities also released body camera footage from officers at the scene. D.L. Kazeem Oyeneyin answers the door at his home in Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 17. When demonstrators took to the . We have concluded this hire was not helpful to our equity work, and I wish . Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. Join Facebook to connect with John Smyly and others you may know. Oyeneyin was handcuffed and detained in his own home after police responded to a burglar alarm in process. 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 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. Lawmakers trounce Lobbyists in annual charity hockey game, These four House Republicans broke with the GOP to oppose inflation estimates bill, Biden mocks Rep. 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During the incident the man gave officers his university ID and said repeatedly that he lived and worked at the shared occupancy building. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. Such is the case of Boulder, Colo., police officer John Smyly over his interaction with Zayd Atkinson on March 1st this year. What Smyly did should have incurred harsher charges but here we are. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. He then begins commands for the student to sit down on the pavement . Officer Smyly drew his gun and called in backup during the confrontation in March. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly escalates the situation. 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. 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. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March 2019. Watch: Police confront black man in his own yard. One officer can be seen holding a rifle; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags. May 17, 2019, 6:17 AM PDT. 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. Smyly then detained Atkinson for further investigation,which prompted Atkinson to grow frustrated. City Attorney Tom Carr said firing Smyly would have led to a drawn-out appeal and potentially allowed him to keep his job. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? 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 . More from The Latest Hip-Hop News, Music and Media | Hip-Hop Wired, Your email will be shared with hiphopwired.com and subject to its, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Loses Reelection Bid, Larsa Pippen Shares She Hung Out With Her Beaus Dad Michael Jordan, Dreamville & Daily Paper Launch Dream Daily Collection. Smyly is a 14-year department veteran was found in violation of two department policies. Film is the tool you can use to help other people say what they need to say, said Strong. 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 . Follow @dlchandler123 setTimeout( function() { 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. How many strikeouts did John Smiley have? He said he has had trouble sleeping since and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Initially freelancing at iOne Digital in 2010, he officially joined the iOne team in 2017 where he currently works as a Senior Editor for Cassius Life and Hip-Hop Wired. 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