Officer Smyly drew his gun and called in backup during the confrontation in March. Such is the case of Boulder, Colo., police officer John Smyly over his interaction with Zayd Atkinson on March 1st this year. In a documentary filmmaking class during her junior year at CU, Katrina Miller (Jour07) made a short movie about her friend, a Black student whod received a racially charged letter threatening her to step down from her post as student body president. 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. 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 . Zayd Atkinson, a student at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, was picking up garbage outside of his residence when officer John Smyly approached. We've received your submission. He will be on the city payroll until February 2020. 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 After Atkinson said he did, Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to tase him. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof.Smyly next asked for Atkinsons date of birth. After about eight minutes, more Boulder police officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March 2019. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. 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. (Siddhartha Rathod via AP) John Smyly resigned from the BPD after pointing a gun at Black Naropa student Zayd Atkinson, and he was just hired by Boulder County Sheriff. 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. 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. When demonstrators took to the . The City of Boulder concluded the investigation into a March 1, 2019 incident involving an encounter between Zayd Atkinson and Boulder Police officers. 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. Stop!. Colorado police confront man picking up trash on his lawn. TwoFeather. On Thursday, the city announced the conclusion of an internal investigation, saying it found Smyly violated two department policies could not substantiate claims of racial bias. A big reason why I got into film and video is because of the storytelling aspect, said Miller. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. Most young women are not. The city said that an investigation did not find evidence of racial profiling. 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. We would immediately lose our jobs.. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. 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. 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 . Im not tryi. He resigned before a disciplinary process commenced. The Boulder County Sheriff complaint line - 303-441-1759 (Siddhartha Rathod via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Now, 15 years later, Miller is once again using documentary film as a vehicle for social change. 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. Smyly next asked for Atkinsons date of birth. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in . Facebook gives people the power to share. 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. Atkinson responded by showing the officer his school identification card and telling him that he lived there. is a native Washingtonian and resides in the Greater Washington area. 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. 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. John Smiley was a Pitcher. He tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him. 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. @dlchandler123. "I don't have a weapon. Atkinson said he did, and Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. Im picking up trash and youre holding a gun!. 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 . He then begins commands for the student to sit down on the pavement . 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. Under a settlement with the department, Mr Smyly will stay on the city payroll until February 2020. 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. Atkinson refused then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away.Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. Join Facebook to connect with John Smyly and others you may know. The Boulder police officer who confronted a black Naropa student picking up trash outside his residence in March was . Kazeem Oyeneyin answers the door at his home in Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 17. [The positive reaction] makes me want to work even harder toward fixing these problems, and Im feeling that same sense of energy and responsibility from audiences, said Miller. 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. Smyly is resigning but will "exhaust" his paid leave. A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. 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. D.L. "The city of Boulder is paying this officer nearly $80,000 [71,500] for violating the constitutional rights of Zayd," he said. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. 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. 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 . Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. "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. has worked in the past for MTV News, Billboard, and several other publications. 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. Learn more about John S.'s . City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. What Smyly did should have incurred harsher charges but here we are. Video of the incident from Smyly's body camera shows him detaining . Carr said investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct. John Smyly, the Boulder, Colorado, officer who initiated contact with Zayd Atkinson that resulted in a tense interaction where several officers drew their guns, was allowed to resign. 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. 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. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. 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. If you know what department Smyly is working it, please email that information to realjamesfreeman@gmail.com, so I can publicly publish that information, warning potential new victims.ID Refusal by Boulder Colorado man, Zayde Atkinson results in threats and officer John Smyly brandishing a fire arm.email videos you want covered on this channel to Realjamesfreeman@gmail.com James Freeman does first amendment audits, cop watching, cop blocking, and more. 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. City Attorney Tom Carr said the exchange between Smyly and Atkinson does not represent the professionalism of the department. Newly-released . 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. We would immediately lose our jobs.". In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. All Rights Reserved. Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. We do urge caution as this video could trigger some. Youre on my property with a gun in your hand, threatening to shoot me because Im picking up trash, Atkinson said. /9YmNx7|:900w40e =:(xe:`L01[ J @45aG1V !@ %ISB&=@I!IB=@w30=s Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. Officer Smyly . Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the buildings rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. 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. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly escalates the situation. Boulder is essentially saying were going to pay this officer and let him resign for threatening Zayds life, for racially profiling Zayd, said Atkinsons attorney, Siddhartha Rathod. 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. Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. . When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smy. 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. By Ben Kesslen. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. Carr said investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct. 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. %PDF-1.6 % They left after determining that Atkinson had a right to be on the property. This is a clamp.. The Associated Press reports he will earn benefits and a salary during this time and will be compensated for any unused holiday he accrues. Thats what youre gonna do officer? The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. 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. Mr. Rathod is correct. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police . On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! 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. May 16, 2019 / 5:17 PM / CBS Colorado. window.addEventListener( 'loadOrInteraction', function() { Officer quits after pulling gun on black college student picking up trash outside dorm. 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. Smyly asked for Atkinsons date of birth. Boulder Is the Happiest City in the U.S. For Some, Marshall Fire Devastates CU Boulder Community. He will, however, remain an employee through February . 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. Smyly . 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. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. What position did John Smiley play? 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. Film is the tool you can use to help other people say what they need to say, said Strong. 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. By Breanna . 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