The Associated Press reports he will earn benefits and a salary during this time and will be compensated for any unused holiday he accrues. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter.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. 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". 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 phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. 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. Mr. Atkinson turned, took out his ear buds, and asked what was going on. He said he has had trouble sleeping and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. 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. 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. Its a facilitation. 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. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. . Now, 15 years later, Miller is once again using documentary film as a vehicle for social change. Atkinsons attorney, meanwhile, said he was upset that Smyly is allowed to stay on the citys payroll for more than eight months. The Boulder City Council has also created a task force to study police oversight. 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. Mr Smyly called for backup because Mr Atkinson was "unwilling to put down a blunt object". 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. Follow @dlchandler123 He then begins commands for the student to sit down on the pavement . Officer John Smyly was allowed to resign. 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. 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 . Atkinson responded by showing the officer his school identification card and telling him that he lived there. 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. 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. Join Facebook to connect with John Smyly and others you may know. 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. Police body camera footage released Thursday provided a full video account of . We still have people who really believe that Boulder is just this perfect town, who believe that what happened to Zayd was an isolated incident, so I want to reach every single resident somehow, some way, Miller said. 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 . And then you make it beautiful, you hope, so that lots of people are moved by it and want to engage with it. The City of Boulder concluded the investigation into a March 1, 2019 incident involving an encounter between Zayd Atkinson and Boulder Police officers. The findings likely would have resulted in suspension or possible termination, according to the department. 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 resigned before a disciplinary process commenced. Im picking up trash! 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. 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 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. A Colorado police officer, John Smyly resigned after an incident he had with a local resident where he approached this black man who was picking up trash around the residency he lived at. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. He said Boulder either lacks the ability or will to root out racism from this police department. 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 . But none of those officers, including Smyly, pointed their weapons at Atkinson, the report found. Boulder Police Officer John Smyly quit . Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. 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. 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.A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. Atkinson asked for Smylys supervisor several times during the footage and a total of eight officers and a sergeant responded to the scene. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smy. A big reason why I got into film and video is because of the storytelling aspect, said Miller. Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. The officer "did not have authority to detain Mr Atkinson", the department wrote in their report. 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. 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.. Since Live PD and Cops was cancelled, James Freeman does LIVE STREAMING COP WATCHES. endstream endobj 401 0 obj <. More officers -- 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn. 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. Its hard to believe now, but there was a time when there was no Google in Boulder. 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 latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. May 16, 2019 / 5:17 PM / CBS Colorado. We would immediately lose our jobs.". Smyly resigned on May 15, before the conclusion of the disciplinary process. Smyly resigned prior to the conclusion of the disciplinary process, but police indicated the process would have likely resulted in suspension or termination. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police . 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. Video of the incident from Smyly's body camera shows him detaining . He currently heads the SPIRIT.ED column for Cassius Life, which focuses on adult beverages and their history. 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. KATHLEEN FOODY. Smyly then detained Atkinson for further investigation,which prompted Atkinson to grow frustrated. 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. May 16, 2019, 9:54 PM. The city on Thursday announced the settlement but did not include the terms in a news release. IE 11 is not supported. A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. 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. Newly-released . If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Learn more about John S.'s . Most young women are not. Recordings emerged of Greene referring to deputies in his department as "Black bastards" and "snakes.". After about eight minutes, more officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd Atkinson near his home in Boulder. Boulder Is the Happiest City in the U.S. For Some, Marshall Fire Devastates CU Boulder Community. Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March 2019. "I don't have a weapon. 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. 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. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. By Breanna . We would immediately lose our jobs.. When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to . Carr said investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct. 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. He is likely employed at a different police department at this time. 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, according to the new footage. A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. He tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him. @O $6(|a*P`t@dLYYo&$ ()lTA johhUCWLe8*%BsS@35,\4'Jaqm>$BlvR6 Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. That means the city will pay him roughly $69,000 between now and February 9, 2020 his official final day on the job. This is a clamp.. Oyeneyin was handcuffed and detained in his own home after police responded to a burglar alarm in process. Check out footage of the exchange between Smyly and Atkinson. We've received your submission. "That means you can do whatever you want and break the law and get away with it.". . 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. Mr. Rathod is correct. Atkinson also told ABC Newss Good Morning America in April that hes been struggling with stress and trauma since the encounter. 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