We've received your submission. We would immediately lose our jobs.. Im picking up trash! We would immediately lose our jobs.. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. 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. Investigators also determined that a person overheard on the footage telling Atkinson that he was likely racially profiled was a Naropa employee and not one of the responding officers. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. @O
$6(|a*P`t@dLYYo&$ ()lTA johhUCWLe8*%BsS@35,\4'Jaqm>$BlvR6 After about eight minutes, more officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. On March 1, 2019, back when few mainstream politicians used the term "systemic racism" while discussing law enforcement aimed at people of color, Boulder Police officer John Smyly starred in a . 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. 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. D.L. Thats what youre gonna do officer? 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. Oyeneyin was handcuffed and detained in his own home after police responded to a burglar alarm in process. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with . @dlchandler123. 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. The Associated Press reports he will earn benefits and a salary during this time and will be compensated for any unused holiday he accrues. [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. 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. We have concluded this hire was not helpful to our equity work, and I wish . It's like Live PD, except actually live, and without the \"cops can do no wrong\" bias.music in this videoLove Is Blind (Instrumental Version) - Coma Svenssonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u78BBpHcz44Wasted Education - Blue Topazhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqmKzeeDj54 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. Youre on my property with a gun in your hand, threatening to shoot me because Im picking up trash, Atkinson said. In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. 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. By Breanna . 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". KATHLEEN FOODY. Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. 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. Smyly drew his stun gun 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 city offered to settle with Atkinson for $125,000. 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 . "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. (Siddhartha Rathod via AP) At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Mr. Atkinson turned, took out his ear buds, and asked what was going on. 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. Boulder officials conducted an investigation of the March incident of officer John Smyly confronting Zayd Atkinson outside his home. In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. Atkinson refused then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away. City Attorney Tom Carr said firing Smyly would have led to a drawn-out appeal and potentially allowed him to keep his job. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. }, 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. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. He will, however, remain an employee through February . 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. 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. 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. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. "That means you can do whatever you want and break the law and get away with it.". Atkinson refused, then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. 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. Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. The city added that Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019. Im picking up trash, and youre holding a gun!. "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. 17, 2019 at 1:00 PM PDT. May 16, 2019, 9:54 PM. "I need to verify who you are," Smyly says. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. Officer John Smyly. "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. 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 City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. Smyly, a 14-year vet with no history of . 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. 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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. 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 . Smyly asked for Atkinsons date of birth. 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. 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 to the newspaper. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March 2019. 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. D.L. View the profiles of people named John Smyly. 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. 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. Smyly attempted to detain Atkinson, a student at Naropa University in Boulder, asking him to prove he lived on the property. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. 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. We do urge caution as this video could trigger some. 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. covers a variety of topics including breaking news, politics, Hip-Hop music and culture, fashion, and Black history. More officers -- 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn. All Rights Reserved. Now, 15 years later, Miller is once again using documentary film as a vehicle for social change. On body-camera footage the city released Thursday, Atkinson can be heard saying, Im a student, I live here Im doing my job..
KQ)csp W,M=--I3&\(4lPb&[ 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 a 14-year department veteran was found in violation of two department policies. setTimeout( function() { Youre gonna shoot a resident on his property for picking up trash?, Smyly drew his gun when the two men reached the back of the building, an investigative summary said. 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 shepherd boy, the wolf and the threat to Israeli democracy. Check out footage of the exchange between Smyly and Atkinson. Chandler is a veteran of the Washington D.C. metro writing scene, working as a journalist, reporter, and culture critic. 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. 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. "The city of Boulder is paying this officer nearly $80,000 [71,500] for violating the constitutional rights of Zayd," he said. 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. Follow @dlchandler123 We do not know the motive of the officer on why he approached this black man. Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. 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) 1 of 2. This is a clamp.. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . 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. Atkinson can be seen holding a bucket and a metal trash grabber. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. 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. 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. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. Film is the tool you can use to help other people say what they need to say, said Strong. The Boulder County Sheriff complaint line - 303-441-1759 Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. Shortly before 8:30 a.m. on that day, Officer John Smyly spotted Atkinson sitting in a partially enclosed patio area directly behind a "Private Property" sign and spoke to him to find out if he . The officer "did not have authority to detain Mr Atkinson", the department wrote in their report. 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. "That just pisses me off that my tax money is going there to this guy to hang out for a year after breaking the law and breaching my rights," Atkinson said. 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. Department rule 8 (Conduct): Members use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the department. Officer Smyly got his attention and asked him to stop. What position did John Smiley play? 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. I thought that once the firearm was out that that meant that he was going to try to kill me, Atkinson said. 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.