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. 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. (Siddhartha Rathod via AP) 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. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd Atkinson near his home in Boulder. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. "That means you can do whatever you want and break the law and get away with it.". 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. Under a settlement with the department, Mr Smyly will stay on the city payroll until February 2020. One officer can be seen holding a rifle; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags. Im picking up trash, and youre holding a gun!. "I need to verify who you are," Smyly says. He said he has had trouble sleeping and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. Atkinson asked for Smylys supervisor several times during the footage and a total of eight officers and a sergeant responded to the scene. 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. Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the buildings rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong.Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. What Smyly did should have incurred harsher charges but here we are. 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. Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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 . Carr said investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct. hbbd```b``>"gk`G`vd "Y rdle`bd`u$300 * 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. The city said that an investigation did not find evidence of racial profiling. When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to . By Breanna . As Atkinson attempted to continue to pick up trash, Smyly told him, Youre probably going to get tased, and eventually pulled out his gun, claiming Atkinsons trash grabber could be used as a weapon. Police body camera footage released Thursday . John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. This is a clamp!" Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. A video showing part of the scene went viral on the Internet, sparking outrage in the progressive Colorado city. 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. By Ben Kesslen. 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. 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. A white Colorado police officer who confronted a black man picking . Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. A big reason why I got into film and video is because of the storytelling aspect, said Miller. 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. Drought, dry grass and gusting winds lead to wildfire. Smyly was conducting extra patrols due to recent crime in the area when he encountered Atkinson with an unknown object in his left hand, according to a summary of the probe released by Boulder police Chief Greg Testa. In a settlement, Smyly lost his gig but still will collect $69,000 in salary and wont see a blemish on his work record. 1202 University Avenue, 459 UCB 2 Followers, 0 Following, 1 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from John Smyly (@reformed_cop) @O $6(|a*P`t@dLYYo&$ ()lTA johhUCWLe8*%BsS@35,\4'Jaqm>$BlvR6 BOULDER, Colo. -- New video shows the heated encounter that went viral back in March -- a black man confronted by a Boulder police officer while picking up trash in his own yard. The findings likely would have resulted in suspension or possible termination, according to the department. 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. All Rights Reserved. We would immediately lose our jobs.. ABC News noted that other officers arrived on the scene soon after. Boulder officials conducted an investigation of the March incident of officer John Smyly confronting Zayd Atkinson outside his home. 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 . "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. KATHLEEN FOODY. 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. 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 raised his voice, causing the officer to become threatened by the trash grabber, according to the report. Supervised 25 different police officer trainees, evaluating job performance and developing training plans to encourage professional growth and improve deficiencies. 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 repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. Smyly is a 14-year department veteran was found in violation of two department policies. Boulder Is the Happiest City in the U.S. For Some, Marshall Fire Devastates CU Boulder Community. D.L. . Stop!. Smyly then detained Atkinson for further investigation,which prompted Atkinson to grow frustrated. They left after determining that Atkinson had a right to be on the property. In a statement released on Thursday, The city of Boulder announced that an investigation found that Smyly violated two police department policies: WEST POINT, N.Y. Army head coach Jeff Monken is giving a history lesson. 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. After Atkinson said he did, Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. 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. Colorado police confront man picking up trash on his lawn. The Boulder police officer who confronted a black Naropa student picking up trash outside his residence in March was . 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. 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. Since Live PD and Cops was cancelled, James Freeman does LIVE STREAMING COP WATCHES. It feels like they are jumping on this train with me after watching the film and hearing the stories.. Read about our approach to external linking. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. Boulder Police Department's investigation found Mr Smyly had violated the department's rules on police authority, public trust and conduct. Everyone really needs to open their eyes to all the truths of their community so we can fix it.. D.L. 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. If you know what department Smyly is working it, please email that information to realjamesfreeman@gmail.com, so I can publicly publish that information, warning potential new victims.ID Refusal by Boulder Colorado man, Zayde Atkinson results in threats and officer John Smyly brandishing a fire arm.email videos you want covered on this channel to Realjamesfreeman@gmail.com James Freeman does first amendment audits, cop watching, cop blocking, and more. 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. A white police officer who pulled out his gun during a heated confrontation with a black college student picking up trash outside his Colorado dorm is resigning and will continue to collect his paycheck for the next eight months, city officials said. 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 independent review, conducted by former U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, Bob Troyer, will soon be released by the city. Watch: Police confront black man in his own yard. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Smyly is resigning but will "exhaust" his paid leave. The City of Boulder concluded the investigation into a March 1, 2019 incident involving an encounter between Zayd Atkinson and Boulder Police officers. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . 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. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . The city offered to settle with Atkinson for $125,000. This is a bucket! Oyeneyin was handcuffed and detained in his own home after police responded to a burglar alarm in process. window.addEventListener( 'loadOrInteraction', function() { If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Im picking up trash and youre holding a gun!. We've received your submission. 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. Check out footage of the exchange between Smyly and Atkinson. Boulder police launch an internal investigation after a video surfaces showing officers confronting an African American man picking up trash in Boulder, Colorado. The officer, John Smyly, was identified Thursday as the 14-year department veteran seen in a 16-minute video posted to YouTube after confronting Zayd Atkinson outside a Naropa University dorm in Boulder on March 1, the Boulder Daily Camera reports. A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. City council is set to approve the payout during a special Monday night meeting, the only non . The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. Most young men are single. Smyly asked for Atkinsons date of birth. 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 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. Privacy Legal & Trademarks Campus Map. 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. Im picking up trash! 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. That morning, John Smyly, a Boulder police officer, was driving around the area of Folsom Street and . May 17, 2019, 6:17 AM PDT. Learn more about John S.'s . 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. My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. The man he tried to bully and intimidate, Zayde Atkinson, NEVER gave in. Smyly later said he believed his stun gun would be ineffective in subduing Atkinson because of the heavy coat he was wearing at the time, according to the report. The officer, John Smyly, resigned with a severance package, as the City Council and community members were troubled by the incident. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . One of the officers involved in the latter scenario, John Smyly, resigned from the BPD earlier this month. During the incident the man gave officers his university ID and said repeatedly that he lived and worked at the shared occupancy building. covers a variety of topics including breaking news, politics, Hip-Hop music and culture, fashion, and Black history. 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 . Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. 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. 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. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? Such is the case of Boulder, Colo., police officer John Smyly over his interaction with Zayd Atkinson on March 1st this year. Atkinson refused then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away. 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. @dlchandler123. /9YmNx7|:900w40e =:(xe:`L01[ J @45aG1V !@ %ISB&=@I!IB=@w30=s Chandler is a veteran of the Washington D.C. metro writing scene, working as a journalist, reporter, and culture critic. On Thursday morning, the city of Boulder announced the investigation had closed and the officer, who had already resigned, had not racially profiled the man. Mr. Rathod is correct. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. Thats what youre gonna do officer? 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. Now, 15 years later, Miller is once again using documentary film as a vehicle for social change. May 16, 2019 / 5:17 PM / CBS Colorado. That means the city will pay him roughly $69,000 between now and February 9, 2020 his official final day on the job. 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. Newly-released . John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. The shepherd boy, the wolf and the threat to Israeli democracy. Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. "If you or I did what Officer Smyly did to Zayd Atkinson, not only would we be immediately fired, we would be criminally prosecuted. 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. Maybe he got a suspicious call or saw something but things escalated. 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. 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 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 . Its a facilitation. "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. Associated Press / May 17, 2019. The officer "did not have authority to detain Mr Atkinson", the department wrote in their report. 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. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. Atkinson responded by showing the officer his school identification card and telling him that he lived there. Officer John Smyly. Smyly next asked for Atkinsons date of birth. 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. Fired immediately breaking News, politics, Hip-Hop music and culture, fashion, and black history Freeman live..., Hip-Hop music and culture, fashion, and black history Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved live and... 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