is a native Washingtonian and resides in the Greater Washington area. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. 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. "That means you can do whatever you want and break the law and get away with it.". "If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Im picking up trash, and youre holding a gun!. 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. When demonstrators took to the streets to show support for Atkinson and protest racism, the filmmakers grabbed their cameras and got to work. {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. After Atkinson said he did, Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. (Facebook . 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. 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. hbbd```b``>"gk`G`vd "Y rdle`bd`u$300 * The confrontation between Smyly and Atkinsonsparked massive backlash in the community. On body-camera footage the city released Thursday, Atkinson can be heard saying, Im a student, I live here Im doing my job.. 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 . The shepherd boy, the wolf and the threat to Israeli democracy. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March 2019. This is a bucket! The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. A big reason why I got into film and video is because of the storytelling aspect, said Miller. 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. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. 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. October 1, 2020. "The subject officer did not have probable cause to charge Mr Atkinson with any crime.". 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. One officer can be seen holding a rifle; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly escalates the situation. Boulder Police Department's investigation found Mr Smyly had violated the department's rules on police authority, public trust and conduct. 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. 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. Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. The report released with the video 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. 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. 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. Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. Under a settlement with the department, Mr Smyly will stay on the city payroll until February 2020. 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. Atkinson said he did, and Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. 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. John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. Atkinson echoed Rathod's remarks in an interview with Denver7. City Attorney Tom Carr said firing Smyly would have led to a drawn-out appeal and potentially allowed him to keep his job. This is a clamp.. 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 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. Facebook gives people the power to share. Mr Atkinson says in a video taken by a neighbour. Stop!. 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. While we have no proof racial bias was a motivating factor, the internal affairs investigation resulted in sustained violations of police policies.. D.L. A phone number for Smyly could not be located 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. "I need to verify who you are," Smyly says. After about eight minutes, more officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. Smyly was allowed to resign, and is likely working for another department at this time. 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. They left after determining that Atkinson had a right to be on the property. 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. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . Mr Smyly attempted to detain Mr Atkinson . Mr Atkinson told local broadcaster CBS4 Denver he was glad Officer Smyly was "being held accountable for something but it seems like it's just bare minimum things". 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. Smyly resigned prior to the conclusion of the disciplinary process, but police indicated the process would have likely resulted in suspension or termination. Kazeem Oyeneyin answers the door at his home in Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 17. His first big break in journalism came with the now-defunct Politically Black in 1999, the nation's first Black political news portal. This is a clamp!" May 17, 2019, 6:17 AM PDT. 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. Atkinson's attorney, Denver-based civil rights attorney Siddhartha Rathod, said that Boulder was using taxpayer dollars to reward Smyly for racially profiling his client and putting Atkinson in fear for his life. Since Live PD and Cops was cancelled, James Freeman does LIVE STREAMING COP WATCHES. 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. 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. The findings likely would have resulted in suspension or possible termination, according to the department. 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. Officer John Smyly was allowed to resign. Atkinsons attorney, Siddhartha Rathod, said he thinks Smyly is getting off too easy. "I don't have a weapon. 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. 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. Based on the investigation, the Boulder Police Department will start additional training on de-escalation efforts for officers. Im picking up trash! City Attorney Tom Carr said the exchange between Smyly and Atkinson does not represent the professionalism of the department. 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. 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. If you have information about the department Smyly is working for now, please email the information to [email protected], so I can publish it, warning potential new victims of his presence. Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. 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. The Boulder City Council has also created a task force to study police oversight. 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. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd . Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. But none of those officers, including Smyly, pointed their weapons at Atkinson, the report found. In a settlement, Smyly lost his gig but still will collect $69,000 in salary and wont see a blemish on his work record. Film is the tool you can use to help other people say what they need to say, said Strong. 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 . Boulder police launch an internal investigation after a video surfaces showing officers confronting an African American man picking up trash in Boulder, Colorado. 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. Mr. Rathod is correct. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong.Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. 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. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! 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. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in . D.L. 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. 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. 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 . Smyly is a 14-year department veteran was found in violation of two department policies. We do not know the motive of the officer on why he approached this black man. 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. window.addEventListener( 'loadOrInteraction', function() { Colorado police confront man picking up trash on his lawn. How many strikeouts did John Smiley have? endstream endobj startxref 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. 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work with any crime ``! 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