Kazeem Oyeneyin answers the door at his home in Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 17. 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. October 1, 2020. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . A white police officer who pulled out his gun during a heated confrontation with a black college student picking up trash outside his Colorado dorm is resigning and will continue to collect his paycheck for the next eight months, city officials said. Youre on my property with a gun in your hand, threatening to shoot me because Im picking up trash, Atkinson said. Friday, March 13, 2020 (Updated Monday, March 16) The city of Boulder is offering a $125,000 settlement to Zayd Atkinson, the black Naropa student who was confronted by armed police officers last year while picking up trash outside his home. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. 2 Followers, 0 Following, 1 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from John Smyly (@reformed_cop) 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. Im picking up trash, and youre holding a gun!. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WYFF-TV. Im picking up trash! Read about our approach to external linking. 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. The film centers on a recent incident that made headlines around the world: In March 2019, Boulder police officer John Smyly confronted and, ultimately, pointed his gun at Zayd Atkinson, a Black man and a student at Naropa University who was picking up trash outside of his dorm as part of his work-study job. IE 11 is not supported. Atkinson then raised his voice, causing the officer to become threatened by the trash grabber, according to the report. We do not know the motive of the officer on why he approached this black man. Follow @dlchandler123 Im not tryi. Im picking up trash! 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. 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, 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 . Smyly asked for Atkinsons date of birth. A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. Smyly was allowed to resign, and is likely working for another department at this time. A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. 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 . According to the summary, one officer drew his handgun when he arrived but re-holstered it in less than a minute while Smyly had his gun out until Atkinson put the trash-grabbing tool down. It can be a great influencer, and Ive always known that there are certain issues in the world I want to address and the best medium to do that, for me, was film.. ", US police detain black man picking rubbish, Human error to blame for train crash - Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. "Boulder is paying this officer nearly $80,000 in taxpayer money, giving him a year's paid vacation for what he did," Rathod said, adding that if any other citizen had done what Smyly did, they would be fired from their job and charged criminally. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, 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, Harry and Meghan told to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage, Explosive found in check-in luggage at US airport, Fungus case forces Jack Daniels to halt construction, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, Dozens of girls treated after new Iran poisonings, Havana Syndrome unlikely to have hostile cause - US. What Smyly did should have incurred harsher charges but here we are. Facebook gives people the power to share. How many strikeouts did John Smiley have? A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. Thats what youre gonna do officer? Millers video didnt make it out of the classroom (though her peers did give her a standing ovation), but Miller never forgot the pride and passion she felt drawing attention to injustice. Maybe he got a suspicious call or saw something but things escalated. Officer quits after pulling gun on black college student picking up trash outside dorm. 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. A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. Atkinsons attorney, Siddhartha Rathod, said he thinks Smyly is getting off too easy. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. Mr Smyly called for backup because Mr Atkinson was "unwilling to put down a blunt object". 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. Watch: Police confront black man in his own yard. We still have people who really believe that Boulder is just this perfect town, who believe that what happened to Zayd was an isolated incident, so I want to reach every single resident somehow, some way, Miller said. John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. What position did John Smiley play? May 17, 2019, 6:17 AM PDT. Police body camera footage released . Police body camera footage released Thursday provided a full video account of . Shortly before 8:30 a.m. on that day, Officer John Smyly spotted Atkinson sitting in a partially enclosed patio area directly behind a "Private Property" sign and spoke to him to find out if he . 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. After about eight minutes, more officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. 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. "If they don't have the ability to terminate racist officers, that's Boulder's problem not taxpayers' problem," Rathod said, pointing to new data that showed black and African-American people in Boulder were more than twice as likely to be arrested during a routine police stop than their white counterparts. Smyly attempted to detain Atkinson, a student at Naropa University in Boulder, asking him to prove he lived on the property. He is likely employed at a different police department at this time. Atkinson said he did, and Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. He is not allowed to be reinstated to the Boulder Police Department. This is a clamp.. The city was being "disingenuous with the public" and "using taxpayer dollars to pay this officer," he added. PUBLISHED: May 16, 2019 at 9:28 a.m. | UPDATED: May 16, 2019 at 11:48 a.m. 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. This Is [Not] Who We Are won a prestigious Peoples Choice Award when it premiered at the Boulder International Film Festival in March, and after the screening, scores of people eagerly participated in a call-to-action discussion session. After Atkinson said he did, Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. Boulder police launch an internal investigation after a video surfaces showing officers confronting an African American man picking up trash in Boulder, Colorado. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd . Thats what youre gonna do, officer? Authorities also released body camera footage from officers at the scene. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd . On March 1 st, 2019, Officer John Smyly was conducting patrols when he saw Atkinson seated on a bench of the building that said "private property."Smyly approaches Atkinson as he sits on the bench to ask if he resides in the building. He resigned before a disciplinary process commenced. The officer, John Smyly, resigned with a severance package, as the City Council and community members were troubled by the incident. Department rule 8 (Conduct): Members use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the department. 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. "If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd Atkinson near his home in Boulder. Im picking up trash and youre holding a gun!. Advertisement. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. City officials said the investigation could not prove that Smyly acted because of Atkinsons race. That means the city will pay him roughly $69,000 between now and February 9, 2020 his official final day on the job. The Associated Press reports he will earn benefits and a salary during this time and will be compensated for any unused holiday he accrues. 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 drew his Taser and followed Atkinson to the back of the building, repeatedly telling him to sit down on the ground and put the weapon down, referring to the trash tool. Alumni Association Under a settlement with the department, Mr Smyly will stay on the city payroll until February 2020. Smyly . City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinson's race. 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 His first big break in journalism came with the now-defunct Politically Black in 1999, the nation's first Black political news portal. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! 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.. 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 . A white Colorado police officer who confronted a black man picking . 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. TwoFeather. Privacy Legal & Trademarks Campus Map. The Boulder City Council has also created a task force to study police oversight. 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 . KATHLEEN FOODY. Carr said investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct. @dlchandler123. 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. Smyly drew his stun gun and followed Atkinson to the back of the building, repeatedly telling him to sit down on the ground and put the weapon down, referring to the trash tool. By Ben Kesslen. One officer can be seen holding a rifle; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags. (Siddhartha Rathod via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 400 0 obj <> endobj Boulder, CO 80309-0459, University of Colorado Boulder Regents of the University of Colorado 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. 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 . 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 then told Atkinson that he was obstructing a police officer, a jailable offense. Smyly later told Atkinson that he was being detained for trespassing. 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 man he tried to bully and intimidate, Zayde Atkinson, NEVER gave in. BOULDER, Colo. -- New video shows the heated encounter that went viral back in March -- a black man confronted by a Boulder police officer while picking up trash in his own yard. Simon and Sally Glass say findings vindicate their belief that their son was murdered by Clear Creek County sheriff's deputies. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. Video shows Smyly approaching Atkinson in a partially enclosed patio area behind a private property sign, prompting the officer to ask if the man had a right to be there. 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. KQ)csp W,M=--I3&\(4lPb&[ The city offered to settle with Atkinson for $125,000. Officer Smyly drew his gun and called in backup during the confrontation in March. Smyly approached Atkinson on March 1 in front of the condo-style building, where he was using a metal tool with a claw at its base to put trash into a bucket, according to the new footage. Mr. Rathod is correct. }, 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. 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. Cellphone footage shot by a neighbor showed Smyly holding his firearm amid the confrontation. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? Smyly later said he believed his stun gun would be ineffective in subduing Atkinson because of the heavy coat he was wearing at the time, according to the report. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March 2019. Now, the creators are fielding requests to screen the film in Boulder and beyond; theyre also creating accompanying study guides to help people understand and discuss the themes depicted in the film. 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. /9YmNx7|:900w40e =:(xe:`L01[ J @45aG1V !@ %ISB&=@I!IB=@w30=s The incident happened on March 1 on the 2300 block of Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder. Most young men are single. Featuring historical context and emotional interviews with present-day Black residents of Boulder including children and teens grappling with racist bullies at school This Is [Not] Who We Are shows another side of a city that views itself as progressive. (Siddhartha Rathod via AP) 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. Atkinson repeats he's provided his identification but Smyly wants more proof. 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". 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. The city added that The confrontation between Smyly and Atkinsonsparked massive backlash in the community. The film centers on a recent incident that made headlines around the world: In March 2019, Boulder police officer John Smyly confronted and, ultimately, pointed his gun at Zayd Atkinson, a Black man and a student at Naropa University who was picking up trash outside of his dorm as part of his work-study job. John Smiley was a Pitcher. Oyeneyin was handcuffed and detained in his own home after police responded to a burglar alarm in process. 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. As part of his resignation agreement, Smyly will officially end his employment with Boulder on Feb. 9, 2020 after using his accrued floating holiday leave, sick and permitted administrative leave. 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