Another drew his handgun when he arrived, but reholstered the weapon shortly after. Atkinson said he lived there. Atkinson said he did and gave Smyly his Naropa student ID. People named John Smyly. Did I honestly read they hired him back as a trainer?!?! Officer John Smyly was among the Boulder Police Department members who rousted Naropa student Zayd Atkinson for picking up trash at his own home in March 2019. Click. James Freeman does first amendment audits, cop watching, cop blocking, and more. This SOB lies to his fellow officers about this student, pure definition of a Racist. Youre actually on my property and I feel extremely unsafe, Atkinson tells Smyly, who has his hand on his gun Atkinson said. See two videos of the incident below. Smyly is a 14-year department veteran was found in violation of two department policies. Tell me I'm wrong . 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. We appreciate that in your letter to us you have confirmed your commitment to the efforts of the county to address race and equity issues.. pulled guns on a Naropa student of color on his own property, lawsuit threat against the Boulder Police Department. The. Would love your thoughts, please comment. John Smyly. Police say Smyly was wrong, but didn't racially profile Atkinson. 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. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms. Atkinson said he did and gave Smyly his Naropa student ID. abcnews.go.com You cant do anything. Officer John Smyly (Photo: Boulder Police Department) and help keep the future of Westword, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. He shared that he slept on the decision, but he clearly didnt think about how it would land with the community or those few diverse members of his staff. "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 says hes investigating a trespass. Mr Smyly called for backup because Mr Atkinson was "unwilling to put down a blunt object". More officers -- 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn. 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. He has in the past been critical of the police investigation and citys efforts to strengthen community oversight of the department. Full Link in Description! Colorado police confront man picking up trash on his lawn. Mr. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. We did not see any opportunity for harm, he wrote. Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. John Smyly was found in violation of department policies and resigned in May 2019 after an internal investigation into Smylys encounter with Zayd Atkinson in Boulder on March 1, 2019. Youre going to tase me outside of my residence?, Smyly tells Atknson to drop it! Atkinson repeats hes provided his identification but Smyly wants more proof. James Freeman, If you were to somehow find out where John Smyly is living, then interrogate him in a stupid way like he did to this poor man, I would love to see that and consider it your best video. The video begins with Smyly approaching Atkinson during the daytime outside student housing. 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. He has agreed to immediately seek other employment outside of the county government.. We need MORE CONSEQUENCES!! If these cocksuckers want to defend this type of behavior, they don't get to complain when they get a taste of it. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. Press J to jump to the feed. Instead, he followed Atkinson, threatening to tase the student because he was carrying a trash picker. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. See Photos. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. CNN . Officer John Smyly confronted student Zayd Atkinson when he was picking up rubbish by his building. We have been engaged in race equity training and discussions and are committed to continuing those efforts and working with county staff on whatever tools might help us in those efforts. Atkinson said he did and gave Smyly his Naropa student ID. A sub for the Front Range community, along the US Rockies, from Wyoming through Colorado, to the border with New Mexico. Read about our approach to external linking. Its like Live PD, except actually live, and without the cops can do no wrong bias. | The J-Town Press, Cops get shut down. 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. After Atkinson showed a student ID and then asked if he had to provide more information, Smyly persisted in his questions. Responding Officer Body Camera Video March 1, 2019 from City of Boulder on Vimeo. Thats a gun! They also asked Pelle to extend an invitation to Smyly from the NAACP to participate in a healing justice model, modeled after the restorative justice process used in the criminal justice system. Colorado: Kelly Clark, 41, has filed an excessive force lawsuit against Waylon Lolotai, . Smyly was allowed to resign, and is likely working for another department at this time. Put it down! That Atkinson was targeted for questioning at all is the innuendo the review ignores. 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. That lack of explanation solidified Mr. Atkinsons perception that he was not being treated honestly and fairly, which increased his agitation and heightened his berating of the officers.. Smyly politely (at first) asked Atkinson to prove he was a resident. When Smyly asked for an address and date of birth, Atkinson walked away and began to pick up trash again. I tend to be very supportive of police officers, including in the most controversial of circumstances. 23:00 " trying to damage something ". Youre gonna shoot a resident on his property for picking up trash?. In response, NAACP leaders wrote that theyre glad Smyly will be leaving the position, as well as saying they appreciated the acknowledgement that Pelle failed to consider the impact the hiring decision might have had on people of color. Boulder and Zayd Atkinson, a black Naropa student who was confronted by a police officer while picking up trash outside his apartment, have agreed to settle any civil claims involving the incident. Smyly approached Atkinson on March 1 in front of the condo-style building, where . As part of his cushy deal he will be paid for accrued floating holiday leave, sick leave, and be permitted administrative leave until Feb. 9. I guess they want sued again . Police have released several body camera videos that depict what happened that winter day at the dormitory where Zyad Atkinson lived. 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. Smyly told dispatchers Atkinson was failing to comply and had a blunt metal object, which resulted in eight officers and a sergeant responding to the scene. sit boy,sit". " We've been shown this plenty of times. The city manager supports the proposed settlement.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u78BBpHcz44, Wasted Education Blue Topaz Anything else is just bullshit. 7:38AM. He will, however, remain an employee through February . Since Live PD and Cops was cancelled, James Freeman does LIVE STREAMING COP WATCHES. They want this guy teaching others anything is absurd. 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. [Read more: Trump turns White House blue], WATCH LIVE: Alex Murdaugh trial closing arguments getting underway today, Tom Rogan, National Security Writer & Online Editor, US intelligence community has proven it can't investigate Havana Syndrome, it should let UK and Australia try, Turns out Chicago voters are racist and sexist against weak, abrasive, crappy mayors, Congress told of likely Chinese spy balloon threat as early as 2019, TikTok restricts teenager screen time as it faces threat of national ban, Lightfoot is out: Chicago mayor out four years after breaking onto scene as rising star, Republicans could force Bidens first veto with fights over ESG and DC crime law, Protesters thrown out of House China committee's first prime-time hearing. Love Is Blind (Instrumental Version) Coma Svensson The city manager supports the proposed settlement., Want more stories like this, delivered straight to your inbox? I go to school here. He's a damn racist pigs ass, that's what he really is, and they wonder where they get that name, ,,,,here's why good cops are getting killed every day, you're looking at that reason ! John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. At no point in the entire incident did anyone use racial language, slurs or innuendo. This completely misses the point about how institutional bias operates. 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. or. What kind of message is that. Elected officials must OK any settlement greater than $10,000, per city code. But he misses the point. Plus this dummy cost us citizens over $100,000 in settlement to the victim of his racist profiling. Instead of being fired as he should have been. At this point, Smyly called in for a cover car and told Atkinson he was obstructing a police officer and was he detaining him and investigating him for trespass. Im not doing anything illegal. Then, Smyly demands to know what Atkinsons date of birth is. 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. I'll keep saying this, all officers like this should be made to take out public liability insurance so the taxpayer no longer has to bail these morons out just so they can go and abuse rights again and again. 3:40. John Smyly. Under the agreement, Smyly. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. Officer John Smyly resigned following the March 1 confrontation with Naropa University student Zayd Atkinson, who was picking up trash outside his home. Email: [email protected]. Join the Westword community and help support Im just checking to make sure that you have a right to be here, Smyly says. Officer resigns but will get $69,000 The investigation, released on Thursday and available here, found no evidence of racial profiling but did say Smyly flouted two police department policies:. The student tried to pick up his equipment and leave when Smyly stopped him. The lawsuit says Trump "inflamed,. OfficerSmyly,evenafterseeingmyvalidschoolID,assertedthathewasdetainingmeanddrew,atvaryingtimes,hisTaserandhisgun. 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". document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); copyright 2023. The former Boulder police officer who resigned after pointing a gun at a Black Naropa student has agreed to leave his temporary civilian position with the Boulder County Sheriffs Office after complaints from the Boulder County NAACP chapter. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd Atkinson near his home in Boulder. Former officer John Smyly will continue to have an unblemished history with the Boulder Police Department. Black college student Zyad Atkinson, and hundreds of thousands who have seen the video, say otherwise. Such is the case of Boulder, Colo., police officer John Smyly over his interaction with Zayd Atkinson on March 1st this year. Smyly wants to see something like a driver license with the address of the student housing on it. Twitter Atkinson has shown his Narapo University identification card. The Moving can be an exciting experience. He resigned before a disciplinary process commenced. Council in October approved a new structure that will include an oversight board and a permanent staff member to serve as a liaison between the community and cops, as well as monitoring internal investigations and auditing policies and practices. It is in fact an addiction out of fear based behavior and the need to control their environment around them. The first responsibility of the city is not to provide closure to its citizens, but rather to ensure the credible conduct of those in government service. ego driven , the nerve to call the garbage tool a weapon !!! "I don't have a weapon! 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 he saw Atkinson seated on a bench in a patio area that had a sign that said private property.. 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.. 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. Under a settlement. We would immediately lose our jobs., Zayd Atkinson & John Smyly: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. As part of the settlement agreement between Smyly and the City of Boulder his file "will . I hope these officers hear his voice on repeat every time they fuck up. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. Atkinson, a student at Naropa University, was picking up trash outside his residence. Boulder Police Officer John Smyly quit . Im telling you Im threatened by it., Atkinson says, You have a gun that kills people!. Atkinson is calm but insistent that he has done nothing wrong. The. Do you have anything with your address on it?. You have a dangerous object in your hand, Stunned Atkinson says, I dont have a weapon! The statement did not release any terms of the settlement. Atkinson says he lives in room 304. The city added that Smyly resigned . John Smyly. Police officer John Smyly resigned for threatening black college student Zyad Atkinson, who was picking up trash outside his dorm. Contact Us if You Have Problems Creating Your Account at : Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Or mail cash/check/precious gemstones toP.O. Where is he taking ME?!? What's he waiting for? Read about our approach to external linking. Log In. but it can also be stressful. That call was a knowing way for that cop to create extreme physical harm to that civilian. 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