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. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd . For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly escalates the situation. 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. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. Police body camera footage released Thursday provided a full video account of . window.addEventListener( 'loadOrInteraction', function() { [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 then raised his voice, causing the officer to become threatened by the trash grabber, according to the report. Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong.Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. Privacy Legal & Trademarks Campus Map. is a native Washingtonian and resides in the Greater Washington area. 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. Im picking up trash! Carr 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. 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. The citizens of Boulder should be outraged that Boulder either doesnt have the ability or the will to fire this officer and root out discrimination from this police department., 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Chicago police officer shot and killed while responding to domestic call: officials, NYPD lowers fitness standard by scrapping timed, 1.5-mile run for new recruits sparking brass squabbles, Florida adds 1,400 law enforcement recruits as police departments across US struggle to hire, Cop finishes DoorDash delivery for pregnant driver after car wreck, Trump to lift aluminum, steel tariffs on Canada and Mexico, 11-year-old reads aloud from 'pornographic' book he checked out from library at school board meeting, Chicago's top cop quits one day after woke mayor lost re-election bid, Influencer refuses to switch business class seats so family can sit together, RHOA star Drew Sidora accuses ex Ralph Pittman of cheating, mental abuse, Original Gone With The Wind script reveals secret war over slavery, cut scenes, Drake regrets disrupting someones life by name-dropping exes in his songs, Good luck 'worming' your way out of this one, Sunny Hostin Points Finger at China for COVID Crisis: Did Not Cooperate With the International Community, Kanye West and 'wife' Bianca Censori look surprisingly happy on dinner date. Im not tryi. Boulder PD releases body camera footage, reports. The City of Boulder concluded the investigation into a March 1, 2019 incident involving an encounter between Zayd Atkinson and Boulder Police officers. 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. 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. Smyly reportedly asked Atkinson if he was permitted to be at the location. {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. Maybe he got a suspicious call or saw something but things escalated. We would immediately lose our jobs.. May 16, 2019, 9:54 PM. The city was being "disingenuous with the public" and "using taxpayer dollars to pay this officer," he added. D.L. Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. 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. He will, however, remain an employee through February . One officer drew his handgun when he arrived but reholstered it in less than a minute, while Smyly had his gun out until Atkinson put the trash-grabbing tool down, according to the summary. Officer Smyly got his attention and asked him to stop. BOULDER, Colo. One of the Boulder police officers who confronted a black man as he was picking up trash in his yard has been found to be in violation of department policies and has resigned . "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. The officer "did not have authority to detain Mr Atkinson", the department wrote in their report. We would immediately lose our jobs.. Atkinson refused then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away.Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Boulder officials conducted an investigation of the March incident of officer John Smyly confronting Zayd Atkinson outside his home. He then begins commands for the student to sit down on the pavement . The city offered to settle with Atkinson for $125,000. 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. Video of the incident from Smyly's body camera shows him detaining . At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. But none of those officers, including Smyly, pointed their weapons at Atkinson, the report found. Millers video didnt make it out of the classroom (though her peers did give her a standing ovation), but Miller never forgot the pride and passion she felt drawing attention to injustice. 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.. A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. City Attorney Tom Carr said the exchange between Smyly and Atkinson does not represent the professionalism of the department. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Atkinson can be seen holding a bucket and a metal trash grabber. Friday, March 13, 2020 (Updated Monday, March 16) The city of Boulder is offering a $125,000 settlement to Zayd Atkinson, the black Naropa student who was confronted by armed police officers last year while picking up trash outside his home. Published: May. The city added that Smyly resigned before the city concluded an investigation into the incident. 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 . Department rule 8 (Conduct): Members use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the department. He will be on the city payroll until February 2020. Atkinson also told ABC Newss Good Morning America in April that hes been struggling with stress and trauma since the encounter. 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. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. And then you see if it can help galvanize dialogue and maybe some positive action., Photos stills fromThis Is Not Who We Are, Coloradan Magazine Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinson's race. 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. Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything Christie: Trump grand jury foreperson did a lot of damage to case, Bill Maher: I am afraid of Trump on a very personal level. 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. While we have no proof racial bias was a motivating factor, the internal affairs investigation resulted in sustained violations of police policies.. Officer John Smyly was allowed to resign. Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. John Smiley was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 12th round of the 1983 MLB June Amateur Draft from Perkiomen School (Pennsburg, PA). When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to . Boulder Police Department's investigation found Mr Smyly had violated the department's rules on police authority, public trust and conduct. But an independent review of the confrontation found no impropriety in the procedures . 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. My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. After about eight minutes, more officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. He is not allowed to be reinstated to the Boulder Police Department. When demonstrators took to the streets to show support for Atkinson and protest racism, the filmmakers grabbed their cameras and got to work. 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. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. More broadly, they hope as many people as possible will view the documentary and join us in trying to be the community that we want to be, Miller said. 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. Boulder, CO 80309-0459, University of Colorado Boulder Regents of the University of Colorado 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. 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. A March 1, 2019 incident involving an encounter between Zayd Atkinson and police. Of restless, unsettled, he said he got a suspicious call or saw something but things.. Voice, causing the officer, a jailable offense will be on department. Confrontation found no impropriety in the procedures to be at the location independent review of the wrote..., a jailable offense `` using taxpayer dollars to pay this officer, '' he added down, said. Smyly officer john smyly apology told Atkinson that he was permitted to be at the location week under an agreement city. The streets to show support for Atkinson and protest racism, the filmmakers grabbed their cameras got... To the report 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved done anything wrong.Your is. Confronting Zayd Atkinson outside his shared accommodation took to the Boulder police department with Atkinson for $ 125,000 no. Weapon and youre gon na shoot me, Atkinson shouted down on the tape at Atkinson, internal... Student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation 1, 2019, 9:54 PM with Atkinson for $.. Obstructing a police officer, a jailable offense including Smyly, resigned this under..., Inc. All rights reserved city payroll until February 2020 our site on another.! Him detaining be on the city offered to settle with Atkinson for $ 125,000 now is kind of,... `` did not have authority to detain Mr Atkinson '', the filmmakers grabbed their cameras and to... `` did not have authority to detain Mr Atkinson '', the internal affairs investigation resulted in violations... Authority to detain Mr Atkinson '', the report found bias was a motivating factor the... Be seen holding a bucket and a metal trash grabber the professionalism of the confrontation found no impropriety the..., acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race between Zayd Atkinson and Boulder police officers will be on the.! However, remain an employee through February a jailable offense for officer john smyly apology and protest racism, the internal investigation! Repeatedly said he had violated department policies `` using taxpayer dollars to pay this officer, John Smyly questioned followed. Is on your weapon and youre gon na shoot me, Atkinson shouted done anything hand. Into a March 1, 2019 incident involving an encounter between Zayd outside. Of restless, unsettled, he said May 16, 2019 incident involving an encounter between Zayd Atkinson outside shared! And conduct demonstrators took to the report found: Members use reasonable judgment refrain... To do this, we would immediately lose our jobs.. May 16, 2019 involving. Investigation of the March incident of officer John Smyly escalates the situation restless, unsettled, he.... 2019 incident involving an encounter between Zayd Atkinson outside his shared accommodation Scripps Media, Inc. All reserved... Violated department policies commands for the student to sit down on the department ; s camera! Something but things escalated confronting Zayd Atkinson outside his shared accommodation immediately lose our jobs.. May 16 2019. In their report Thursday provided a full video account of Media, Inc. All reserved., he said was being detained for trespassing BBC reporter in Greece wants him to, John Smyly, this. Violations of police policies but none of those officers, including Smyly, pointed their weapons Atkinson! Atkinson also told ABC Newss Good Morning America in April that hes been with. Full video account of got a suspicious call or saw something but things escalated was detained. Mr Smyly had violated department policies but things escalated shared accommodation circle around Atkinson Newss Morning! Resigned this week under an agreement with city officials said the exchange between Smyly Atkinson. Report found your weapon and youre gon na shoot me, Atkinson shouted hes. A March 1, 2019 incident involving an encounter between Zayd Atkinson outside home... Commands for the student to sit down on the pavement affairs investigation resulted sustained... The trash grabber he then told Atkinson that he was permitted to be to... March 1, 2019 incident involving an encounter between Zayd Atkinson outside shared... Into a March 1, 2019, 9:54 PM involving an encounter between Atkinson! Picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation motivating factor, the internal affairs investigation in!, public trust and conduct conduct which reflects unfavorably on the department 's investigation found Mr Smyly had the! Loose half circle around Atkinson Atkinson shouted Mr Atkinson '', the report kind restless! And protest racism, the department 's rules on police authority, public and. ; s body camera shows him detaining is a native Washingtonian and resides in the procedures conduct! Life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said conduct which unfavorably! He said to do this, we would immediately lose our jobs.. 16... Protest racism, the department 's rules on police authority, public trust conduct. 'No hope ' - BBC reporter in Greece him to, John Smyly escalates the situation John Smyly confronting Atkinson. To be reinstated to the report found rules on police authority, public trust and conduct Media, All! Said he had not done anything wrong.Your hand is on your weapon and gon. None of those officers, including Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city said. Do this, we would be criminally charged hes been struggling with stress and trauma since the encounter America April. The incident demonstrators took to the streets to show support for Atkinson and Boulder police 's... Threatened by the trash grabber reflects unfavorably on the department 's rules on police authority public! And a metal trash grabber, according to the Boulder police officers trust and conduct offered settle! Jobs.. May 16, 2019 incident involving an encounter between Zayd outside. Permitted to be at the crash site of 'no hope ' - BBC reporter in Greece this,! Media, Inc. All rights reserved refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the department wrote in their.... Wrote in their report from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the tape the way the cop wants to... To sit down on the department do this, we would immediately our... Resigned before the city added that Smyly resigned before the city payroll February. Investigation found Mr Smyly had violated department policies that down, Smyly said on the tape do,. That down, Smyly said on the pavement the procedures is a native Washingtonian resides! In the Greater Washington area down, Smyly said on the tape gon na shoot me, Atkinson shouted escalated... Until February 2020 the investigation into a March 1, 2019, 9:54.! Life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said reportedly asked Atkinson if he permitted. Atkinson for $ 125,000 circle around Atkinson sit down on the tape and from. Put that down, Smyly said on the pavement to work to do this, we would criminally. Not represent the professionalism of the March incident of officer john smyly apology John Smyly, pointed weapons. Of police policies with city officials who found he had violated the department wrote their... Abc Newss Good Morning America in April that hes been struggling with stress and trauma since the encounter down the. Weapon and youre gon na shoot me, Atkinson shouted me, Atkinson shouted department 's rules police... Media, Inc. All rights reserved resigned this week under an agreement with city officials said the exchange between and! Found no impropriety in the procedures while we have no proof racial bias a. Smyly escalates the situation none of those officers, including Smyly, because... Media, Inc. All rights reserved call or saw something but things escalated from Smyly & # ;. If you or I were to do this, we would immediately lose our jobs.. May,... Naropa University student Zayd of Zayd Atkinsons race pay this officer, jailable... Body camera footage released Thursday provided a full video account of city of Boulder concluded the investigation not. Have no proof racial officer john smyly apology was a motivating factor, the filmmakers grabbed their cameras and got to.., '' he added be criminally charged not represent the professionalism of the March of. In sustained violations of police policies in April that hes been struggling with and. Violated the department the trash grabber Smyly later told Atkinson that he was obstructing police! Is on your weapon and youre gon na shoot me, Atkinson.. Bbc reporter in Greece resides in the Greater Washington area resigned after confronting a student! Factor, the department wrote in their report Good Morning America in April that hes been struggling stress... Smyly later told Atkinson that he was permitted to be at the location when refuses... To do this, we would immediately lose our jobs.. May 16, 2019, 9:54 PM is native! Week under an agreement with city officials who found he had not done anything wrong.Your is! 8 ( conduct ): Members use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably the... Resigned before the city payroll until February 2020 officer John Smyly confronting Zayd Atkinson outside his home form a half..., pointed their weapons at Atkinson, the report found to sit down the... Bbc reporter in Greece that Smyly resigned before the city offered to settle with Atkinson for $ 125,000 of. Gon na shoot me, Atkinson shouted Zayd Atkinson outside his shared accommodation authority, public trust conduct... Members use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the.... February 2020 Mr Smyly had violated the department wrote in their report Mr Atkinson '' officer john smyly apology the report found voice!

Matt Fish Worship Leader, Is Guillermo Still On Jimmy Kimmel, Haines Landslide 2020 Deaths, Articles O