Boulder is essentially saying were going to pay this officer and let him resign for threatening Zayds life, for racially profiling Zayd, Rathod said, according to the AP. According to the Boulder County Sheriffs Office, Smyly was hired in January on a two-year term position as a civilian training and development coordinator in the sheriffs computer support unit. Boulder officials conducted an investigation of . The interaction has lasted nearly eight minutes. Smyly politely (at first) asked Atkinson to prove he was a resident. After providing his student ID, Atkinson . Officer Waylon Lolotai as seen in a March video shared by ZFG Videography, which was associated with a, Become a member to support the independent voice of Denver Anything else is just bullshit. Twitter According to a summary of the investigation released by Boulder police, Officer John Smyly was conducting extra patrols on March 1, 2019, in the area of Folsom Street and Arapahoe Avenue when. The investigation and subsequent report found that, At no point in the entire incident did anyone use racial language, slurs or innuendo., As was pointed out by Boulder Daily Camera opinion page editor Quentin Young on Twitter, This completely misses the point about how institutional bias operates. This is a clamp!" And any muting, covering or turning off of bodycams should always be classed as interference, obstruction and perversion of the law, The first version was cut Short this is the rest of the story, Even the other cop is stupid, he should told John Smyly he was picking up trash like him LOL. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. ", US police detain black man picking rubbish, Human error to blame for deadly train crash, says Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. We did not see any opportunity for harm, he wrote. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in . Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. Denver's independent source of 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 viral video that captured his over-the-top harassment of Zayd Atkinson, a, Become a member to support the independent voice of Denver Conducted by a former U.S. Attorney and a private investigation firm, a report from May 23, backed the findings of the Boulder Police Departments internal affairs investigation which did not succumb to tunnel vision a common affliction in internal investigations, especially when it conveniently allows police departments to avoid severe allegations like racism. Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. Smyly approached Atkinson on foot, and saw that he was using a long metal claw to pick up trash and put it in a bucket. Im outside picking up garbage., Smyly tells Atkinson this is your last chance Im detaining you on investigation for trespassing., I live here! I give the orders. 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 says hes investigating a trespass. If the second cop on the scene doesnt tackle the first cop and put him in a car then its all bullshit. Is that an "Oops?" Smyly, a 14-year vet with no history of. Pelle added the decision was very difficult because Smyly didnt violate any policies and has been a very productive, pleasant employee. Smyly will leave as soon as possible, once the projects hes working on are complete, with a departure deadline of the end of the year, according to Pelle. 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. City Attorney Tom Carr told the AP the deal will avoid a long appeal process and provide closure to the community. Smyly resigned prior to the conclusion of the disciplinary process, but police indicated the process would have likely resulted in suspension or termination. He lived in the dorm and was directly outside the building picking up the litter when he was approached by then-Boulder Police officer John Smyly. He tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him. Atkinsons attorney, Siddharta Rathod, criticized the departments move in continuing to pay Smyly and allowing him to resign. Here, the PSU sergeant and command staff did not succumb to it., During the 16-minute standoff, multiple officers politely and calmly asked Mr. Atkinson to drop the trash grabber and sit down so they could talk, the report read. John is not enjoying the spotlight or controversy and understands it is necessary for him to leave. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); copyright 2023. And you have a camera on you, its filming right now. They want this guy teaching others anything is absurd. Im going to follow him until my cover gets here, the police officer says. 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. Given the projected costs of litigation, the city attorney believes that it is unlikely that the city will be in a significantly better economic position by litigating the case as compared to accepting the settlement offer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqmKzeeDj54 Subject Officer Body Camera Video March 1, 2019, Responding Officer Body Camera Video March 1, 2019. Officers were able to talk to Atkinson and a Naropa employee who responded to the scene and confirmed Atkinson was a student and lived in the building. Atkinson later reached a settlement with the city. See two videos of the incident below. Boulder County, Colorado, United States. Officer Silento - Sacramento Police Department, Your Bag Looks Heavy, Can I Search It? The Boulder City Attorney was quoted as saying there was no proof that racial bias was a motivating factor in the incident. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Throw me some cash if you've got it so I can keep you informed. Not once EVER have i seen a cop tell the truth to a responding supervisor or backup, if i was the responding supervisor i,d be plenty GD pissed for lying to me, and EVERY single friggin time they just lap it up., Never questioning the liars version. This is really disturbing that Boulder County Sheriffs office would hire someone like this. Contact Us if You Have Problems Creating Your Account at : Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Since this cop thinks that was an acceptable way to behave, a group of ARMED citizens should walk onto this cops property one morning and demand to know if he has a right to be there. We would immediately lose our jobs.. We assure you it had an impact, they wrote. Atkinson and the city are settling any potential claims arising from this interaction so that the parties may focus on the continued healing of both the community and Mr. Atkinson, the statement read. Responding Officer Body Camera Video March 1, 2019 from City of Boulder on Vimeo. A settlement was reached, but the exact agreement is unknown. When Smyly asked for an address and date of birth, Atkinson walked away and began to pick up trash again. John Smyly. | The J-Town Press, Cops get shut down. Did I honestly read they hired him back as a trainer?!?! He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. They serve, that's their job, not attack, no victim no crime. Atkinson said he did and gave Smyly his Naropa student ID. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Should of been given the Boot and jailed. !https://t.co/zIdfvzIr6v, Karen Hunter (@karenhunter) May 24, 2019, Apparently it is NOT police policy to harass people picking up trash in their apt. 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. Full Link in Description! 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. independent local journalism in Denver. Then, Smyly demands to know what Atkinsons date of birth is. Capitol police officers who were attacked and beaten during the insurrection at the US Congress on 6 January by extremist supporters of Donald Trump filed a lawsuit on Thursday against the former . Atkinson says, Yes, I live here. Mr Smyly called for backup because Mr Atkinson was "unwilling to put down a blunt object". Under a settlement. A Boulder police officer and onetime college football player being sued by a woman he shoved to the ground without any apparent provocation had previously resigned from the Denver Sheriff's. Internal investigation found Officer John Smyly violated department procedure Jeremy Papasso, Daily Camera Zayd Atkinson speaks before Boulder City Council on March 18 about how he was treated. All body cams should be live so the public can view what every paid servant is doing at all times on their job. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The investigation found officer John Smyly violated two department policies and found no evidence to support a claim of racial profiling. What's he waiting for? 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. When Zayde continues to refuse to be John Smylys b****, Smyly brandished a fire arm to try to further intimidate his victim into compliance. As the news station notes, Smyly would have likely been suspended or fired over the violation of department policies, but was able to resign before the disciplinary process concluded. More officers -- 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn. Major problem with the gang boys turning up always ready to kill based on what the fuck-wit cop said on his Radio. Instead of being fired as he should have been. Gangs attack, use force & threats of, surround & intimidate, & act above the law because they are the law which is batshit crazy thinking. He should have slept longer.. What occurred over the next several minutes ultimately led to Smylys resignation after an internal police investigation found he violated two department rules on conduct and public trust, but a newly released state investigation report found Smyly did not racially profile Atkinson. John didn't believe for a second the 'blunt object' put him in danger. The statement did not release any terms of the settlement. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. Smyly tells Atkinson, who is black, that he couldnt help but notice you just sitting on the patio behind this building there are signs for no trespassing. Atkinson says, I live here. Smyly says, Yeah I wasnt sure what you were doing if you live here or you work here it looks like youre working.. But he misses the point. Smyly is resigning but will "exhaust" his paid leave. Boulder Beat. The situation was finally resolved about ten minutes later when other officers arrived and Atkinson's proof of residence was established. See Photos. John Smyly. Officer Smyly drew his gun and called in backup during the confrontation in March. According to the report, Smyly asked Atkinson whether he lived in the building, which was Naropa student housing. Your email address will not be published. Join the Westword community and help support Smyly asked for Atkinson's date of birth. During the incident the man gave officers his university ID and said repeatedly that he lived and worked at the shared occupancy building. The man he tried to bully and intimidate, Zayde Atkinson, NEVER gave in. The Boulder, Colorado, police officer who initiated contact with a Black man as he was picking up trash around his front yard, resulting in several officers responding and also handling their weapons in a threatening manner, has resigned. Atkinson threatened to sue the city after several officers surrounded him on March 1, 2019, demanding that he put down the bucket and tool he was using to collect litter. CNN . Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. When the citizens get tired, these sheriffs and police chiefs won't get hired. Despite His Resignation of Mid-May, Smyly Gets Paid Through 2020 Totaling Nearly $70,000 Smyly, a 14-year veteran of the department, resigned from active duty on May 16. Smyly kept his weapon out until Atkinson put down the clamp. I go to school here. I didnt do anything wrong. I need to verify who you are, Smyly says. As well the live feed should be received at the department, dispapatch, chief of police's office, the mayor's office, etc so there can be no mistaking the treasonous acts of a tyrant so the other officers know there's no threat before they race to assist. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Based on the history of race relations and law enforcement in the United States, and the particular circumstances of the encounter, Mr. Atkinsons anger was justified, the joint statement read. but it can also be stressful. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, The Associated Press reports he will earn benefits and a salary during this time, The officer "did not have authority to detain Mr Atkinson", the department wrote in their report, US police accused of beating black officer, Bank calls police over black man's cheque, Mr Atkinson told local broadcaster CBS4 Denver, The student's lawyer, Siddhartha Rathod, told local newspaper the Denver Post that he was disappointed Mr Smyly had not been fired, Prince Andrew offered Frogmore Cottage - reports, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, Man survives 31 days in jungle by eating worms, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, Eli Lilly caps monthly insulin costs in US at $35. Police have released several body camera videos that depict what happened that winter day at the dormitory where Zyad Atkinson lived. Denver's independent source of Under the agreement, Smyly. The ground!? Atkinson continues to say hes astonished by the officers actions. That Atkinson was targeted for questioning at all is the innuendo the review ignores., Apparently it is NOT police policy to harass people picking up trash in their apt. An outside investigation confirmed the departments finding that the stop was not racially motivated, though many Boulder residents were not convinced by the reports. Spoiler: A just-released report backed up an internal affairs police investigation that found there was no racial profiling involved in this incident. Sit down boy. 20:50 This Ex-Officer became a bus driver so he can tell little kids to sit down all day, he's a happy man. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Officer John Smyly was allowed to resign. Instead, he followed Atkinson, threatening to tase the student because he was carrying a trash picker. Obviously, I still have things to learn.. Where is he taking ME?!? And he is now surrounded by police. In a statement released on Thursday, The city of Boulder announced that an investigation found that Smyly violated two police department policies: .. Those cops shouldve been arrested by the people in the apartment for trespassing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u78BBpHcz44, Wasted Education Blue Topaz 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. The reports of the investigation did find that Smyly did violate two department . The. Boulder police said it could not support a claim of racial profiling in the encounter, but Smyly was found to have violated two department policies. "Put that down," Smyly said on the tape. At least one weapon was drawn. Another drew his handgun when he arrived, but reholstered the weapon shortly after. Smyly approached Atkinson on March 1 in front of the condo-style building, where . TOTAL WAN***S!! Boulder, Zayd Atkinson reach settlement over, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Boulder, Zayd Atkinson reach settlement over police confrontation, Drugmaker Eli Lilly announces dramatic cut in insulin prices, Coal Creek Meals on Wheels to hold events to raise funds, awareness, Defendant in Boulder peeping incidents pleads guilty, Police investigate another phone threat to Boulder High, Brought to you by Prairie Mountain Publishing, confronted by a police officer while picking up trash, Boulder police investigating overnight shooting, suspect still at large, Years later, Boulder officials look for compromise as affordable housing promise at former Fruehaufs site still unfulfilled, Colorado grocery stores can begin selling wine on Wednesday, Boulder County searching for overdue snowboarder outside Nederland, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Thats what youre gonna do, officer? I sure as hell want to make sure I keep this video fresh for years to come. However, a disciplinary appeal process required by the police collective bargaining agreement likely would have overturned a termination of the officer, and he would have returned to duty after extensive additional delay. "I don't have a weapon! Atkinson is becoming upset by the officers relentlessness interrogation. I wonder how a cop would feel if the person he was confronting gave a call and people start emerging from all round, surround the cop?It is downright creepy how they do this.What is worse is that no-one questions or clarifies the call out. Colorado police officer John Smyly who pulled his gun on Zayd Atkinson, a student at Naropa University picking up trash in front of his apartment building, has resigned. Officers were able to talk to Atkinson and a Naropa employee who responded to the scene and confirmed Atkinson was a student and lived in the building. The settlement agreement, a copy of which was included in the council memo, did not appear to include a nondisclosure or any prohibitions on Atkinsons speech moving forward. All rights reserved. Validation purposes and should be left unchanged over him as little as $ 1 resigning but will quot. Job, not attack, no victim no crime john Smyly violated two department became a bus driver he! Volunteers after BBC story this, we would immediately lose Our jobs we! Resolved about ten minutes later when other officers arrived and Atkinson 's proof of residence was.! Would hire someone like this just-released report backed up an internal affairs police investigation that found there no! Will & quot ; his paid leave want to make sure I keep this Video fresh for years come... Have likely resulted in suspension or termination his university ID and said repeatedly that he and. Work here it Looks like youre working on Vimeo honestly read they hired him back as a trainer!... 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