Most young women are not. Atkinsons attorney, Siddhartha Rathod, said he thinks Smyly is getting off too easy. Its a facilitation. 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. The incident happened on March 1 on the 2300 block of Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder. 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. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. Atkinson and BPD patrol officer John Smyly (and, subsequently, other responding officers) ("the Incident"). Embattled NC sheriff resigns again before DA details accusations against him in court. KQ)csp W,M=--I3&\(4lPb&[ Despite the documentarys bleak outlook, the filmmakers remain optimistic, due in large part to the positive reception of the film so far. Boulder police launch an internal investigation after a video surfaces showing officers confronting an African American man picking up trash in Boulder, Colorado. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. The city on Thursday announced the settlement but did not include the terms in a news release. [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. Atkinson refused then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away. He said he has had trouble sleeping and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. 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. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in . Officer John Smyly was allowed to resign. I thought that once the firearm was out that that meant that he was going to try to kill me, Atkinson said. In a settlement, Smyly lost his gig but still will collect $69,000 in salary and wont see a blemish on his work record. The city offered to settle with Atkinson for $125,000. Atkinson refused, then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away. "I need to verify who you are," Smyly says. Smyly is a 14-year department veteran was found in violation of two department policies. 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. has worked in the past for MTV News, Billboard, and several other publications. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. 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 . 'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.async=true;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs'); He said he has had trouble sleeping since and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. D.L. Mr. Rathod is correct. Atkinson then raised his voice, causing the officer to become threatened by the trash grabber, according to the report. 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. Mr Smyly called for backup because Mr Atkinson was "unwilling to put down a blunt object". 1202 University Avenue, 459 UCB Learn more about John S.'s . 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. 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. After Atkinson said he did, Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. Boulder Police Department's investigation found Mr Smyly had violated the department's rules on police authority, public trust and conduct. 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. KATHLEEN FOODY. (Facebook . John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd . John Smiley was a Pitcher. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! 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 . 2023 BBC. 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. Smyly is resigning but will "exhaust" his paid leave. Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. 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. Check out footage of the exchange between Smyly and Atkinson. BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - John Smyly, a Boulder police officer, has resigned after his department says he violated two rules when he questioned and followed a . The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role on May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. Read about our approach to external linking. 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 . We would immediately lose our jobs.. After about eight minutes, more officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. 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. 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.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. 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. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinson's race. 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. hbbd```b``>"gk`G`vd "Y rdle`bd`u$300 * 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. 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. 17, 2019 at 1:00 PM PDT. %PDF-1.6 % When demonstrators took to the streets to show support for Atkinson and protest racism, the filmmakers grabbed their cameras and got to work. Thats what youre gonna do officer? Smyly . 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. Zayd Atkinson, a student at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, was picking up garbage outside of his residence when officer John Smyly approached. 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.. 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. The Boulder City Council has also created a task force to study police oversight. endstream endobj 401 0 obj <. 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. 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. Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. "The city of Boulder is paying this officer nearly $80,000 [71,500] for violating the constitutional rights of Zayd," he said. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. Its hard to believe now, but there was a time when there was no Google in Boulder. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. After about eight minutes, more Boulder police officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. Mr Atkinson says in a video taken by a neighbour. {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. 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. If you or I did what Officer Smyly did to Zayd Atkinson, not only would we be immediately fired, we would be criminally prosecuted, attorney Siddhartha Rathod told the newspaper. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019. Boulder Is the Happiest City in the U.S. For Some, Marshall Fire Devastates CU Boulder Community. This is a clamp.. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. We would immediately lose our jobs.. Boulder PD releases body camera footage, reports. Department rule 8 (Conduct): Members use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the department. Atkinsons attorney, meanwhile, said he was upset that Smyly is allowed to stay on the citys payroll for more than eight months. 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. 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 subject officer did not have probable cause to charge Mr Atkinson with any crime.". Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. What position did John Smiley play? 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. The confrontation between Smyly and Atkinsonsparked massive backlash in the community. Officer quits after pulling gun on black college student picking up trash outside dorm. The officer, John Smyly, resigned with a severance package, as the City Council and community members were troubled by the incident. 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. 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. Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. 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.. 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. The city of Boulder said in a statement Thursday that officer John Smyly violated multiple department policies when he confronted Zayd Atkinson, 26, in March. 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 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. 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