Follow @dlchandler123 Despite the documentarys bleak outlook, the filmmakers remain optimistic, due in large part to the positive reception of the film so far. A video showing part of the scene went viral on the Internet, sparking outrage in the progressive Colorado city. 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. Famous Women Caught With Busted Up Feet [Photos], LL Cool J Explains The Meaning Of Pink Cookies In A Plastic Bag On Drink Champs, Toxic Avengers: Blueface Leaks Alleged Texts From Lil Baby To Chrisean Rock, 15 Music Stars Who Had Disturbing Relationships With Their Entourages [Photos], Twitter Reacts To Will Smith Joking About Chris Rock Slap In New Tik Tok Video, Brandon Smiley Laid To Rest Over The Weekend, Rickey Smiley Shares Photos & Videos, BET Uncut Is Not Coming Back; Here's Its 15 Wildest Videos Anyway, Finger Struggle: Celebrities With Crazy Looking Hands [Photos]. Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the buildings rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. }, 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. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March 2019. The city offered to settle with Atkinson for $125,000. He currently heads the SPIRIT.ED column for Cassius Life, which focuses on adult beverages and their history. Carr said investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct. By Ben Kesslen. Thats what youre gonna do, officer? The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. 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. And then you make it beautiful, you hope, so that lots of people are moved by it and want to engage with it. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019. "That means you can do whatever you want and break the law and get away with it.". By Breanna . We've received your submission. 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. Boulder Police Department's investigation found Mr Smyly had violated the department's rules on police authority, public trust and conduct. All Rights Reserved. A police internal affairs report said that Smylys choice to detain Atkinson was not supported by reasonable suspicion that Mr. Atkinson was committing, had committed, or was about to commit a crime.. Supervised 25 different police officer trainees, evaluating job performance and developing training plans to encourage professional growth and improve deficiencies. During the incident the man gave officers his university ID and said repeatedly that he lived and worked at the shared occupancy building. Officer quits after pulling gun on black college student picking up trash outside dorm. . Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. We would immediately lose our jobs.". Atkinson refused then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away.Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. Atkinson, who is black and said after the incident that he felt he was racially profiled, showed Smyly, who is white, his student identification card, but the officer said he needed needed further proof. 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. Youre probably going to get tased in a second, because you have a weapon, Smyly told Atkinson before brandishing his handgun. A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. Based on the investigation, the Boulder Police Department will start additional training on de-escalation efforts for officers. window.addEventListener( 'loadOrInteraction', function() { covers a variety of topics including breaking news, politics, Hip-Hop music and culture, fashion, and Black history. Since Live PD and Cops was cancelled, James Freeman does LIVE STREAMING COP WATCHES. A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. Join Facebook to connect with John Smyly and others you may know. 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. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. 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. 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 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. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. The city said that an investigation did not find evidence of racial profiling. Associated Press / May 17, 2019. Video of the incident from Smyly's body camera shows him detaining . 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. 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. That morning, John Smyly, a Boulder police officer, was driving around the area of Folsom Street and . What Smyly did should have incurred harsher charges but here we are. Youre on my property with a gun in your hand, threatening to shoot me because Im picking up trash, Atkinson 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. Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything Christie: Trump grand jury foreperson did a lot of damage to case, Bill Maher: I am afraid of Trump on a very personal level. BOULDER, Colo. One of the Boulder police officers who confronted a black man as he was picking up trash in his yard has been found to be in violation of department policies and has resigned . 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. Officer John Smyly was allowed to resign. 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. My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. A white Colorado police officer has resigned after being caught on video drawing his gun on a black man who said he was picking up trash at his property. Mr. Rathod is correct. 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. Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. 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. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd . Most young women are not. setTimeout( function() { "The city of Boulder is paying this officer nearly $80,000 [71,500] for violating the constitutional rights of Zayd," he said. I have practiced law for over 28 years, 14 of those years as a federal prosecutor and . Smyly asked for Atkinsons date of birth. 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. 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. This is a clamp!" He is likely employed at a different police department at this time. The Boulder City Council has also created a task force to study police oversight. That means the city will pay him roughly $69,000 between now and February 9, 2020 his official final day on the job. The city added that Smyly resigned before the city concluded an investigation into the incident. 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. 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. KATHLEEN FOODY. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. Boulder officials conducted an investigation of the March incident of officer John Smyly confronting Zayd Atkinson outside his home. 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. 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. Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. Officer Smyly got his attention and asked him to stop. 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. Smyly is resigning but will "exhaust" his paid leave. is a native Washingtonian and resides in the Greater Washington area. Its a facilitation. Youre on my property with a gun in your hand, threatening to shoot me because Im picking up trash, the man said to the officer. 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 . Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong.Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. Im not tryi. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . 0
More from The Latest Hip-Hop News, Music and Media | Hip-Hop Wired, Your email will be shared with hiphopwired.com and subject to its, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Loses Reelection Bid, Larsa Pippen Shares She Hung Out With Her Beaus Dad Michael Jordan, Dreamville & Daily Paper Launch Dream Daily Collection. The city added that Facebook gives people the power to share. However, Smyly resigned before the investigation concluded. Department rule 8 (Conduct): Members use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the department. 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. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019. The city was being "disingenuous with the public" and "using taxpayer dollars to pay this officer," he added. My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. A white Colorado police officer who confronted a black man picking . 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. All Rights Reserved, Chicago police officer shot and killed while responding to domestic call: officials, NYPD lowers fitness standard by scrapping timed, 1.5-mile run for new recruits sparking brass squabbles, Florida adds 1,400 law enforcement recruits as police departments across US struggle to hire, Cop finishes DoorDash delivery for pregnant driver after car wreck, Trump to lift aluminum, steel tariffs on Canada and Mexico, 11-year-old reads aloud from 'pornographic' book he checked out from library at school board meeting, Chicago's top cop quits one day after woke mayor lost re-election bid, Influencer refuses to switch business class seats so family can sit together, RHOA star Drew Sidora accuses ex Ralph Pittman of cheating, mental abuse, Original Gone With The Wind script reveals secret war over slavery, cut scenes, Drake regrets disrupting someones life by name-dropping exes in his songs, Good luck 'worming' your way out of this one, Sunny Hostin Points Finger at China for COVID Crisis: Did Not Cooperate With the International Community, Kanye West and 'wife' Bianca Censori look surprisingly happy on dinner date. They left after determining that Atkinson had a right to be on the property. Drought, dry grass and gusting winds lead to wildfire. October 1, 2020. City officials said the investigation could not prove that Smyly acted because of Atkinsons race. Boulder, CO 80309-0459, University of Colorado Boulder Regents of the University of Colorado 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. "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. 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. But an independent review of the confrontation found no impropriety in the procedures . 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 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. Atkinson refused then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd . Its hard to believe now, but there was a time when there was no Google in Boulder. endstream
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<. Such is the case of Boulder, Colo., police officer John Smyly over his interaction with Zayd Atkinson on March 1st this year. Chandler is a veteran of the Washington D.C. metro writing scene, working as a journalist, reporter, and culture critic. Zayd Atkinson, a student at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, was picking up garbage outside of his residence when officer John Smyly approached. Mr. Atkinson turned, took out his ear buds, and asked what was going on. Advertisement. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! After about eight minutes, more officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police . %%EOF
On body-camera footage the city released Thursday, Atkinson can be heard saying, Im a student, I live here Im doing my job.. 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". has worked in the past for MTV News, Billboard, and several other publications. 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. "If you or I did what Officer Smyly did to Zayd Atkinson, not only would we be immediately fired, we would be criminally prosecuted. Published: May. 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. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. 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