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. Film is the tool you can use to help other people say what they need to say, said Strong. (Siddhartha Rathod via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Stop!. On March 1 st, 2019, Officer John Smyly was conducting patrols when he saw Atkinson seated on a bench of the building that said "private property."Smyly approaches Atkinson as he sits on the bench to ask if he resides in the building. Chandler is a veteran of the Washington D.C. metro writing scene, working as a journalist, reporter, and culture critic. Recordings emerged of Greene referring to deputies in his department as "Black bastards" and "snakes.". Authorities also released body camera footage from officers at the scene. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police . Check out footage of the exchange between Smyly and Atkinson. The city said that an investigation did not find evidence of racial profiling. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. . The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. D.L. Zayd Atkinson, a student at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, was picking up garbage outside of his residence when officer John Smyly approached. 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. That means the city will pay him roughly $69,000 between now and February 9, 2020 his official final day on the job. Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. 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. Atkinsons attorney, meanwhile, said he was upset that Smyly is allowed to stay on the citys payroll for more than eight months. When demonstrators took to the streets to show support for Atkinson and protest racism, the filmmakers grabbed their cameras and got to work. He will be on the city payroll until February 2020. %PDF-1.6 % Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. Smyly next asked for Atkinsons date of birth. We do urge caution as this video could trigger some. 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. 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. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smy. Police body camera footage released Thursday . 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. The Associated Press reports he will earn benefits and a salary during this time and will be compensated for any unused holiday he accrues. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Most young women are not. He said Boulder either lacks the ability or will to root out racism from this police department. City Attorney Tom Carr said the exchange between Smyly and Atkinson does not represent the professionalism of the department. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly escalates the situation. 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. Smyly reportedly asked Atkinson if he was permitted to be at the location. 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. 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. Atkinson refused then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away.Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. IE 11 is not supported. 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. "I don't have a weapon! Its hard to believe now, but there was a time when there was no Google in Boulder. 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. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. May 16, 2019, 9:54 PM. He will, however, remain an employee through February . 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. {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. "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. 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. We would immediately lose our jobs.. 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. 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. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019. Atkinson echoed Rathod's remarks in an interview with Denver7. 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. Alumni Association 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 officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. 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. Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. Atkinson responded by showing the officer his school identification card and telling him that he lived there. "If you or I did what Officer Smyly did to Zayd Atkinson, not only would we be immediately fired, we would be criminally prosecuted. 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. Follow @dlchandler123 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. Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . Judge says Starbucks committed egregious and widespread labor violations Zero-calorie sweetener popular in keto diets linked to strokes, heart attacks, Trumps polling strength causes heartburn for Senate GOP, Senate group wades into tough talks on Social Security, China, Belarus call for cease-fire, negotiations in Ukraine. 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 Im picking up trash, and youre holding a gun!. When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to . Smyly attempted to detain Atkinson, a student at Naropa University in Boulder, asking him to prove he lived on the property. 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. Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the buildings rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. Im picking up trash and youre holding a gun!. A white Colorado police officer who confronted a black man picking . Details of the payment amount were included in the City Council agenda packet released Thursday evening ahead of its . 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. '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'); John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. He currently heads the SPIRIT.ED column for Cassius Life, which focuses on adult beverages and their history. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. 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. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . He resigned before a disciplinary process commenced. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. KATHLEEN FOODY. Boulder officials conducted an investigation of the March incident of officer John Smyly confronting Zayd Atkinson outside his home. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. DENVER >> 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 . The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. 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 said he did, and Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. All Rights Reserved. }, 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. is a native Washingtonian and resides in the Greater Washington area. 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. A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. The incident happened on March 1 on the 2300 block of Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder. And then you make it beautiful, you hope, so that lots of people are moved by it and want to engage with it. 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. The officer "did not have authority to detain Mr Atkinson", the department wrote in their report. Smyly resigned prior to the conclusion of the disciplinary process, but police indicated the process would have likely resulted in suspension or termination. We would immediately lose our jobs.. Boulder Police Department's investigation found Mr Smyly had violated the department's rules on police authority, public trust and conduct. Based on the investigation, the Boulder Police Department will start additional training on de-escalation efforts for officers. The city added that Smyly resigned before the city concluded an investigation into the incident. The Boulder police officer who confronted a black Naropa student picking up trash outside his residence in March was . 418 0 obj <>stream His first big break in journalism came with the now-defunct Politically Black in 1999, the nation's first Black political news portal. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. Officer John Smyly was allowed to resign. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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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", US police detain black man picking rubbish, Human error to blame for train crash - Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. hbbd```b``>"gk`G`vd "Y rdle`bd`u$300 * In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. He said he has had trouble sleeping and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. 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. 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