"The city of Boulder is paying this officer nearly $80,000 [71,500] for violating the constitutional rights of Zayd," he said. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. But the movie goes much deeper than this moment, exploring how Boulders earliest history made it nearly impossible for people of color to succeed in the idyllic city in the shadow of the Flatirons. More officers -- 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn. covers a variety of topics including breaking news, politics, Hip-Hop music and culture, fashion, and Black history. Advertisement. 'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.async=true;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs'); 411 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[400 19]/Info 399 0 R/Length 74/Prev 280568/Root 401 0 R/Size 419/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . Atkinson, who was holding a trash picker at the time, then told Smyly that he both lived and worked there before giving the officer his ID card. Most young women are not. The body camera footage of Officer Smyly shows the exchange between go sour after Atkinson told him that he was a resident and offered to show him his access . 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. 17, 2019 at 1:00 PM PDT. Smyly violated police authority and public trust and conduct, according to the review process that wouldve likely ended in his suspension or termination had he not already resigned from the department, police told the newspaper. Mr Smyly attempted to detain Mr Atkinson . Im picking up trash! Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. City Attorney Tom Carr said firing Smyly would have led to a drawn-out appeal and potentially allowed him to keep his job. 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. In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Details of the payment amount were included in the City Council agenda packet released Thursday evening ahead of its . 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. Mr Atkinson says in a video taken by a neighbour. While we have no proof racial bias was a motivating factor, the internal affairs investigation resulted in sustained violations of police policies.. 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. The city of Boulder said in a statement Thursday that officer John Smyly violated multiple department policies when he confronted Zayd Atkinson, 26, in March. Atkinson's attorney, Denver-based civil rights attorney Siddhartha Rathod, said that Boulder was using taxpayer dollars to reward Smyly for racially profiling his client and putting Atkinson in fear for his life. His first big break in journalism came with the now-defunct Politically Black in 1999, the nation's first Black political news portal. Kazeem Oyeneyin answers the door at his home in Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 17. When demonstrators took to the . Most young men are single. (Siddhartha Rathod via AP) On body-camera footage the city released Thursday, Atkinson can be heard saying, Im a student, I live here Im doing my job.. Smyly . Im picking up trash and youre holding a gun!After about eight minutes, more Boulder police officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson.One officer can be seen holding a rifle; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags. 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. Miller, along with Beret Strong (Engl83) and John Tweedy (Engl82), are sparking important conversations about race and inclusion with their film This Is [Not] Who We Are, which explores the disconnect between Boulder's self-proclaimed commitment to diversity and Black residents lived experiences. 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 . Im picking up trash! He will, however, remain an employee through February . Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . 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. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. 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. Boulder police launch an internal investigation after a video surfaces showing officers confronting an African American man picking up trash in Boulder, Colorado. Officer Smyly drew his gun and called in backup during the confrontation in March. That morning, John Smyly, a Boulder police officer, was driving around the area of Folsom Street and . Chandler is a veteran of the Washington D.C. metro writing scene, working as a journalist, reporter, and culture critic. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. He said he has had trouble sleeping and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. If you or I did what Officer Smyly did to Zayd Atkinson, not only would we be immediately fired, we would be criminally prosecuted, attorney Siddhartha Rathod told the newspaper. 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. 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. Im not tryi. 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. One officer can be seen holding a rifle; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags. We do not know the motive of the officer on why he approached this black man. 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. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. 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. Officer John Smyly resigned Wednesday ahead of a planned administrative hearing into his confrontation involving Naropa University student Zayd Atkinson in March, CBS Denver reported. Officer quits after pulling gun on black college student picking up trash outside dorm. 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. Im picking up trash! The man he tried to bully and intimidate, Zayde Atkinson, NEVER gave in. They hope that after viewing the film, people will feel motivated to take action or start down a path of self-education, however they feel compelled to whether thats by joining the Boulder County branch of the NAACP, reading books on white privilege, having difficult conversations about race and ethnicity or something else entirely. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. He tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him. The Boulder City Council has also created a task force to study police oversight. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. 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. Smyly is a 14-year department veteran was found in violation of two department policies. Smyly, a 14-year vet with no history of . 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. 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. I didnt know what else to do besides, you know, to fight with my voice and to practice my rights, which were thoroughly being breached., THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. The city on Thursday announced the settlement but did not include the terms in a news release. City officials said the investigation could not prove that Smyly acted because of Atkinsons race. 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. 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