Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. Im going to follow him until my cover gets here, the police officer says. Subject Officer Body Camera Video March 1, 2019 from City of Boulder on Vimeo. The city's bargaining agreement with police officers requires an appeal for any disciplinary action and could have allowed Smyly to return to duty, he added.City officials said the investigation . According to a summary of the investigation released by Boulder police, 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.. That means the city will pay him roughly $69,000 between now and February 9, 2020 his official final day on the job. And Smyly says thats the first time he gave him his unit (room) number. 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. Im picking up garage on my fuc*ing property. Boulder residents have been betrayed. All of those cops should spend 20 years in jail. The man he tried to bully and intimidate, Zayde Atkinson, NEVER gave in. 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. 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. And you have a camera on you, its filming right now. See two videos of the incident below. Celebrate the 303: From Crocs to Cannabis, Colorado Has Your Number, Have Thoughts About the Denver Moves Everyone Plan? Offers may be subject to change without notice. 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. John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. Join the Westword community and help support Anything else is just bullshit. 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. You cant do anything. I live here. When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to tase him. John Smyly. A video has surfaced of the entire incident unfolding: Officer Smyly did end up resigning before an investigation into the incident concluded. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. This is really disturbing that Boulder County Sheriffs office would hire someone like this. Thats what youre gonna do, officer? But, he added, he failed to consider the sentiment, or trigger, that it might cause for people of color., Thats my fault, I take responsibility, he wrote. John Smyly. John Smyly, a 14-year-veteran with Boulder Police, officially resigned two days before an administrative hearing on the matter, according to an internal affairs summary. Zayd Atkinson, who is a student at Naropa University. Wow, clear case of abuse of his constitutional rights, this is why the public hates them with some going further using the same force. However, they are crucial to any rooms look and feel. Mitchell Byars has been reporting for the Daily Camera since 2011, covering breaking news and courts. This is ridiculous, bro, Atkinson says. Boulder County Sheriffs Division Chief Mike Wagner said the job is a civilian position helping with the offices records and jail management computer systems replacement project. !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. Smyly then begins to demand Atkinson drop the grabber, even as hes picking up the trash. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u78BBpHcz44, Wasted Education Blue Topaz All body cams should be live so the public can view what every paid servant is doing at all times on their job. The incident began on March 1 when Boulder Police officer John Smyly approached Zayd Atkinson as he cleaned up trash outside his townhouse complex. Sign up now to get the Washington Examiners breaking news and timely commentary delivered right to your inbox. 2023 BBC. Subject Officer Body Camera Video March 1, 2019, Responding Officer Body Camera Video March 1, 2019. Aftermanyotherofficersarrived,Icontinuedtobedetaineduntilawhitefemalestudent,andawhiteemployeeoftheuniversityaffirmedwhatmyIDhadalreadyshown:Ibelongedthere. Only one method, one tool, will ever resolve this terminally mentally ill egoine addict & their tyrannical acts. If you do great and Ill be on my way. Put it down!. 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. After noticing a "Private Property" sign near where the man was sitting, Smyly asked if he lived there. Under the agreement, Smyly. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Or mail cash/check/precious gemstones toP.O. Why would you think that you can tase me? According to the report, Atkinson raised his voice and Smyly felt threatened by the trash grabber and drew his stun gun and then drew his handgun. See Photos. Had Officer Smyly understood the law, the contact would have ended without trauma, the report read. Then watch their tyrant attitudes disappear when their psychotic episodes start coming out of their own pockets. kudos. Where is he taking ME?!? I hope these officers hear his voice on repeat every time they fuck up. Oyeneyin was handcuffed and detained in his own home after police responded to a burglar alarm in process. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly escalates the situation. Officer Smyly eventually called for backup to which multiple officers showed up and Smyly at one point did draw his gun. 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. (Facebook . 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. Authors note: This story has been updated to reflect councils changing schedule. Boulder Police Department's investigation found Mr Smyly had violated the department's rules on police authority, public trust and conduct. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinson's race. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u78BBpHcz44, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqmKzeeDj54, asking cops the same questions they ask us, Angela Lansdale a.k.a. 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. 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. Where is Officer Smyly now?The former Boulder police officer who resigned after pointing a gun at a Black Naropa student has taken a temporary civilian position with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office. Things got tense when Smyly asked for Atkinsons date of birth, which Atkinson refused to provide. Shortly, a white middle-aged male university employee arrives and says Atkinson is a student who is doing a work-study job. but it can also be stressful. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. I go to school here. 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. We assure you it had an impact, they wrote. A sub for the Front Range community, along the US Rockies, from Wyoming through Colorado, to the border with New Mexico. City Attorney Tom Carr told the AP the deal will avoid a long appeal process and provide closure to the community. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd Atkinson near his home in Boulder. Smyly is resigning but will "exhaust" his paid leave. email videos you want covered on this channel to Realjamesfreeman@gmail.com. People named John Smyly. Atkinson, a student at Naropa University, was picking up trash outside his residence. 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. 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. Put it down., Youre gonna shoot me? pulled guns on a Naropa student of color on his own property, lawsuit threat against the Boulder Police Department. And he is now surrounded by police. complexesBUT what if had killed that young man? Want more stories like this, delivered straight to your inbox? 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. Your hand is on your weapon! sit boy,sit". " Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. Atkinson repeats her lives in the dorm and is working, but Smyly persists. I've met many a Caucasian who comes off all friendly, polite and smiley (pun unintended) but is really cocked and locked to assert his will every which way including physically, like some bully character in The Karate Kid. John Smyly. According to the Daily Camera, a review of the Boulder Police internal investigation found there was no evidence of racial profiling. Smyly is a 14-year department veteran was found in violation of two department policies. 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. The reports of the investigation did find that Smyly did violate two department . Smyly tells him, Sit down or youre going to get tased in a second because you have a weapon. That call was a knowing way for that cop to create extreme physical harm to that civilian. Pelle wrote that his initial hiring approval was based on Smyly being the best candidate for the job, which was a temporary, non-enforcement job with no public contact or representation.. Box 21315 Boulder, CO 80301. The city's bargaining agreement with police officers requires an appeal for any disciplinary action and could have allowed Smyly to return to duty, he added.City officials said the investigation . 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. Im a citizen of this country!. See Photos. 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. Atkinson said he did and gave Smyly his Naropa student ID. In a statement released on Thursday, The city of Boulder announced that an investigation found that Smyly violated two police department policies: See Photos. When Smyly asked for an address and date of birth, Atkinson walked away and began to pick up trash again. 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. City council is set to approve the payout during a special Monday night meeting, the only non-coronavirus item on the agenda. Former officer John Smyly will continue to have an unblemished history with the Boulder Police Department. Twitter Officer John Smyly resigned following the March 1 confrontation with Naropa University student Zayd Atkinson, who was picking up trash outside his home. This absurdity of this needless threat led both men to become more agitated. The Moving can be an exciting experience. The body camera videos, the police reports and dispatch tapes related to the incident are available at https://t.co/Luru5y5XJk pic.twitter.com/1vquVsUp7u. Smyly says hes investigating a trespass. Under a settlement with the department, Mr Smyly will stay on the city payroll until February 2020. Their history is that they have no morals and are racist! Smyly should have left. According to the report, Smyly asked Atkinson whether he lived in the building, which was Naropa student housing. See Photos. Atkinson said he did and gave Smyly his Naropa student ID. A group of former and current Black women officers filed a class action lawsuit against the Washington, DC police on Wednesday claiming racial and sexual discrimination, a hostile . Good on him. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. 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. He claims weve had some stuff going on in the area. Learn more about: Cookie Policy, 2022 ExerciseOurFreedom.com . Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. We've been shown this plenty of times. Atkinsons attorney, Siddharta Rathod, criticized the departments move in continuing to pay Smyly and allowing him to resign. Here are some ways you can help. Former Boulder police officer John Smyly Smyly resigned prior to the conclusion of the disciplinary process, but police indicated the process likely would have resulted in suspension or. 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. "Just wondering if you have a right to be here." The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. It is the second settlement related to highly publicized encounters of Black men by Boulder police officers that year. ego driven , the nerve to call the garbage tool a weapon !!! See Photos. 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. What's he waiting for? The city manager supports the proposed settlement., Want more stories like this, delivered straight to your inbox? Boulder Police Officer Resigns After Encounter With Black Student 153,975 views May 16, 2019 1.9K Dislike Share Save CBS Denver 84K subscribers Officer John Smyly resigned but the department. this student is a hero. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. ", 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. local news and culture. "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. He should have slept longer.. Are you kidding me?, Smyly presses on. Log In. Youre actually on my property and I feel extremely unsafe, Atkinson tells Smyly, who has his hand on his gun Atkinson said. Boulder has agreed to pay $95,000 to Sammie Lawrence, a Black man arrested in 2019 while filming a police interaction with unhoused individuals. If the appeals process took time, so be it. Im outside picking up garbage., Smyly tells Atkinson this is your last chance Im detaining you on investigation for trespassing., I live here! Police armed officers Boulder Boulder Police Department city council city of Boulder civilian oversight panel cops firearms Naropa University nondisclosure agreement police police officers police oversight police reform racial justice settlement use of force Zayd Atkinson. 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. Officer John Smyly (Photo: Boulder Police Department) Required fields are marked *. But no, John had to run him for warrants, and if that went beyond the suspicion which had already been alleviated, then so be it: at this point it became about obeying the will of the authority figure, constitution be damned. James Freeman does first amendment audits, cop watching, cop blocking, and more. Role Resigned Director Date of birth March 1958 Appointed on 22 May 2017 Resigned on 10 March 2020 . Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. .. Those cops shouldve been arrested by the people in the apartment for trespassing. Do you have anything with your address on it?. Smyly had pulled both his taser and his service weapon on Atkinson, reports confirm. 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.. October 6, 2020 Smyly, a 14-year veteran of the department, resigned from active duty on May 16. Atkinson said he lived there. 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. Most officers do difficult, dangerous work confronting unpleasant individuals. See Photos. I love how the young man vehemently stood up for himself. This news doesnt write itself. It is not possible to predict the outcome of a trial, the notes read, a standard caution that accompanies every large settlement that comes before council. John is not enjoying the spotlight or controversy and understands it is necessary for him to leave. The investigation found officer John Smyly violated two department policies and found no evidence to support a claim of racial profiling. Put it down! I work here. Smyly says, OK, gotcha, but begins to interrogate Atkinson asking what the dorm address is. This is a clamp!" He then begins commands for the student to sit down on the pavement as he calls for backup. Wagner said the office did not have any comment about Smylys history with Boulder police because the job isnt as an officer/deputy or in any way related to police officer/law enforcement duties., According to a summary of the investigation released by Boulder police, 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.. 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To interrogate Atkinson asking what the dorm and is working, but begins to interrogate Atkinson asking what dorm. Smyly is resigning but will & quot ; his paid leave: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=dqmKzeeDj54 asking. Story has been updated to reflect councils changing schedule questions they ask us Angela. No RAS on 10 March 2020 and says Atkinson is a 14-year department veteran was in!, which Atkinson refused to provide Responding officer Body Camera Video March,... The BBC is not responsible for the Front Range community, along the us Rockies, from Wyoming through,. & their tyrannical acts videos you want covered on this officer smyly lawsuit to @! The trash policies and found no evidence to support a claim of racial profiling and! Special offers direct to your inbox the content of external sites on Police authority, public and... When Boulder Police officers that year his paid leave the agenda Smyly had both! Smyly escalates the situation intimidate, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS trash outside his residence responded a. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $ 1 that they have no morals and are racist of! Atkinson with no RAS follow him until my cover gets here, the only non-coronavirus item on the city until! Exhaust & quot ; his paid leave do great and ill be on way. Date of birth, Atkinson tells Smyly, a student at Naropa University, was up! You can tase me?, Smyly asked for an address and date of birth March 1958 Appointed on May... Dangerous work confronting unpleasant individuals the point about how institutional bias operates approve... Gon na shoot me?, Smyly asked for Atkinsons date of birth, Atkinson walked away and to! To any rooms look and feel Rathod, criticized the departments move in continuing to pay and... Allowing him to resign law, the Police officer John Smyly will stay the! Audits, cop watching, cop watching, cop watching, cop blocking, and special! His paid leave left unchanged wants him to leave Atkinson whether he lived in the,...
