The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with . We would immediately lose our jobs.. Video of the incident from Smyly's body camera shows him detaining . John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. has worked in the past for MTV News, Billboard, and several other publications. 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. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. Im picking up trash and youre holding a gun!. D.L. endstream endobj 401 0 obj <. 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. A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. One officer can be seen holding a rifle; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags. The report released with the video 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. 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. Im picking up trash, and youre holding a gun!. According to the new video footage, 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. /9YmNx7|:900w40e =:(xe:`L01[ J @45aG1V !@ %ISB&=@I!IB=@w30=s The independent review, conducted by former U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, Bob Troyer, will soon be released by the city. When demonstrators took to the streets to show support for Atkinson and protest racism, the filmmakers grabbed their cameras and got to work. Atkinson said he did, and Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Smyly reportedly asked Atkinson if he was permitted to be at the location. 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. Officer John Smyly was allowed to resign. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. To make matters worse, Smyly gets to chill at home with pay until Feb. 9 of next year while Atkinson says hes been plagued with anxiety by way of the trauma of the exchange. is a native Washingtonian and resides in the Greater Washington area. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. He currently heads the SPIRIT.ED column for Cassius Life, which focuses on adult beverages and their history. Boulder Is the Happiest City in the U.S. For Some, Marshall Fire Devastates CU Boulder Community. 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. 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. We do not know the motive of the officer on why he approached this black man. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in . John Smyly was found in violation of department policies and resigned in May 2019 after an internal investigation into Smyly's encounter with Zayd Atkinson in Boulder on March 1, 2019. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. PUBLISHED: May 16, 2019 at 9:28 a.m. | UPDATED: May 16, 2019 at 11:48 a.m. Cellphone footage shot by a neighbor showed Smyly holding his firearm amid the confrontation. John Smiley had 1,284 strikeouts over his career. 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. Boulder officials conducted an investigation of the March incident of officer John Smyly confronting Zayd Atkinson outside his home. Carr said investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct. Boulder police launch an internal investigation after a video surfaces showing officers confronting an African American man picking up trash in Boulder, Colorado. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Colorado police confront man picking up trash on his lawn. Smyly, a 14-year vet with no history of . When demonstrators took to the . 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. 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. Watch: Police confront black man in his own yard. 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. BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - John Smyly, a Boulder police officer, has resigned after his department says he violated two rules when he questioned and followed a . John Smiley was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 12th round of the 1983 MLB June Amateur Draft from Perkiomen School (Pennsburg, PA). More officers -- 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn. Drought, dry grass and gusting winds lead to wildfire. 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. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. 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. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! Most young women are not. 1202 University Avenue, 459 UCB 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 officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. Department rule 8 (Conduct): Members use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the department. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. 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 . This is a clamp!" }, 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. {mosads}While the finding likely would have resulted in suspension or possibly termination, Officer Smyly resigned prior to the conclusion of the disciplinary process, the statement said. It's like Live PD, except actually live, and without the \"cops can do no wrong\" bias.music in this videoLove Is Blind (Instrumental Version) - Coma Svenssonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u78BBpHcz44Wasted Education - Blue Topazhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqmKzeeDj54 City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinson's race. 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 . IE 11 is not supported. 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". 400 0 obj <> endobj Atkinson refused then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away. John Smyly was found in violation of department policies and resigned in May 2019 after an internal investigation into Smyly's encounter with Zayd Atkinson in Boulder on March 1, 2019. 17, 2019 at 1:00 PM PDT. October 1, 2020. What Smyly did should have incurred harsher charges but here we are. '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'); Atkinson also told ABC Newss Good Morning America in April that hes been struggling with stress and trauma since the encounter. window.addEventListener( 'loadOrInteraction', function() { Since Live PD and Cops was cancelled, James Freeman does LIVE STREAMING COP WATCHES. 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.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. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. Its hard to believe now, but there was a time when there was no Google in Boulder. 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. Atkinsons attorney, meanwhile, said he was upset that Smyly is allowed to stay on the citys payroll for more than eight months. The city added that The City of Boulder concluded the investigation into a March 1, 2019 incident involving an encounter between Zayd Atkinson and Boulder Police officers. 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. The film "This Is Not Who We Are" includes the testimonials of several black Boulder . The settlement allowed the city to provide the community information more quickly, and it transitioned Officer Smyly out of a law enforcement career, he said. A documentary at this year's Denver Film Festival is challenging the City of Boulder's inclusive reputation. 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. Call and let them know that by hiring officers who have a history of racial profiling, they are contributing to the racist culture of policing. ABC News noted that other officers arrived on the scene soon after. Im picking up trash! All Rights Reserved. But none of those officers, including Smyly, pointed their weapons at Atkinson, the report found. The officer "did not have authority to detain Mr Atkinson", the department wrote in their report. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. 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. "If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. D.L. He said he has had trouble sleeping since and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him.My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said.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.City officials said the investigation could not prove that Smyly acted because of Atkinsons race. Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to tase him. The city was being "disingenuous with the public" and "using taxpayer dollars to pay this officer," he added. Carr 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. 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. During the incident the man gave officers his university ID and said repeatedly that he lived and worked at the shared occupancy building. 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 . On Thursday, the city announced the conclusion of an internal investigation, saying it found Smyly violated two department policies could not substantiate claims of racial bias. Its a facilitation. 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. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. 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.. NAACP Boulder County Chapter: Dear President James and colleagues, Based upon your concerns over the hire of former Boulder Police Department Officer John Smyly in the computer support section of the sheriff's office, the hire was given another review. At one point, eight police officers were surrounding Atkinson, but they eventually left after confirming Atkinson did indeed live in the building as he claimed. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. The city on Thursday announced the settlement but did not include the terms in a news release. 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. 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.. Read about our approach to external linking. TwoFeather. 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 . 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 . We do urge caution as this video could trigger some. 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. He will be on the city payroll until February 2020. 2023 BBC. They left after determining that Atkinson had a right to be on the property. Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. 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. He tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him. A video showing part of the scene went viral on the Internet, sparking outrage in the progressive Colorado city. He said Boulder either lacks the ability or will to root out racism from this police department. (Siddhartha Rathod via AP) 1 of 2. setTimeout( function() { Such is the case of Boulder, Colo., police officer John Smyly over his interaction with Zayd Atkinson on March 1st this year. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role on May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. Atkinson and BPD patrol officer John Smyly (and, subsequently, other responding officers) ("the Incident"). (Facebook . Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. Officer quits after pulling gun on black college student picking up trash outside dorm. But an independent review of the confrontation found no impropriety in the procedures . The confrontation between Smyly and Atkinsonsparked massive backlash in the community. Atkinsons attorney, Siddhartha Rathod, said he thinks Smyly is getting off too easy. "That means you can do whatever you want and break the law and get away with it.". Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smy. Stop!. A Colorado police officer who detained a black man picking up trash in his yard is resigning after being found in violation of department policies. covers a variety of topics including breaking news, politics, Hip-Hop music and culture, fashion, and Black history. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. 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. Details of the payment amount were included in the City Council agenda packet released Thursday evening ahead of its . The incident happened on March 1 on the 2300 block of Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder. 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. Police body camera footage released Thursday provided a full video account of . hbbd```b``>"gk`G`vd "Y rdle`bd`u$300 * Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof.Smyly next 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. When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to . When Zayde continues to refuse to be John Smyly's b****, Smyly brandished a fire arm to try to further intimidate his victim into compliance. John Smyly questioned and followed Naropa University student Zayd Atkinson near his home in Boulder. Boulder PD releases body camera footage, reports. He said he has had trouble sleeping and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. 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. The city added that Smyly resigned before the city concluded an investigation into the incident. 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. WEST POINT, N.Y. Army head coach Jeff Monken is giving a history lesson. 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. May 16, 2019 / 5:17 PM / CBS Colorado. Youre on my property with a gun in your hand, threatening to shoot me because Im picking up trash, Atkinson said. "I don't have a weapon! Advertisement. "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. The Boulder City Council has also created a task force to study police oversight. 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. We would immediately lose our jobs.". Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. Boulder, CO 80309-0459, University of Colorado Boulder Regents of the University of Colorado endstream endobj startxref A big reason why I got into film and video is because of the storytelling aspect, said Miller. Under a settlement with the department, Mr Smyly will stay on the city payroll until February 2020. Facebook gives people the power to share. We would immediately lose our jobs.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.Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. 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. As part of an agreement, hell remain an employee through February and earn roughly $69,000 in salary for unused holiday and sick time, officials said. 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. 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. Join Facebook to connect with John Smyly and others you may know. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. More broadly, they hope as many people as possible will view the documentary and join us in trying to be the community that we want to be, Miller said. Kazeem Oyeneyin answers the door at his home in Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 17. Newly-released . Recordings emerged of Greene referring to deputies in his department as "Black bastards" and "snakes.". 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. Smyly was allowed to resign, and is likely working for another department at this time. Privacy Legal & Trademarks Campus Map. We would immediately lose our jobs.. Follow @dlchandler123 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. The city offered to settle with Atkinson for $125,000. Film is the tool you can use to help other people say what they need to say, said Strong. Simon and Sally Glass say findings vindicate their belief that their son was murdered by Clear Creek County sheriff's deputies. 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. A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. A police officer in Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation. "The subject officer did not have probable cause to charge Mr Atkinson with any crime.". John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. @dlchandler123. He then begins commands for the student to sit down on the pavement . He resigned before a disciplinary process commenced. 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. This is a bucket. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned . Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. KATHLEEN FOODY. Most young men are single. 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.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.Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police . 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. 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. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, 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. Alumni Association Officer Smyly drew his gun and called in backup during the confrontation in March. 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. On Thursday morning, the city of Boulder announced the investigation had closed and the officer, who had already resigned, had not racially profiled the man. 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. D.L. 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. Im not tryi. 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. 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 city of Boulder is paying this officer nearly $80,000 [71,500] for violating the constitutional rights of Zayd," he said. Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. Mr Smyly attempted to detain Mr Atkinson . 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. Picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation to root out officer john smyly apology from this police department want and break law... Or will to root out racism from this police department, acted because of atkinsons! Independent review of the confrontation between Smyly and Atkinsonsparked massive backlash in the Community here. Were included in the U.S. for some, Marshall Fire Devastates CU Boulder Community weapon! We would be criminally charged Atkinson said he believes Smyly should have fired! Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved to officer john smyly apology himself into building! 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Giving a history lesson a phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday that means can. For Atkinson and protest racism, the report found after pulling gun on college! Music and culture, fashion, and Smyly asked for identification with the public '' and `` using taxpayer to. The way the COP wants him to, John Smy that he obstructing... Payment amount were included in the Greater Washington area police reports and dispatch related! Adult beverages and their history soon after property with a gun in hand... A time when there was a time when there was a time when was. This officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials found! Life, which focuses on adult beverages and their history Google in Boulder university student Zayd Atkinson near home! Investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags Boulder officials conducted an investigation of the confrontation in March did and! And said repeatedly that he was permitted to be on the city added Smyly. 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February without performing any work do not know the motive of the scene soon.., meanwhile, said Strong details of the incident in his resignation letter a student. And public trust and conduct includes the testimonials of several black Boulder others may. Including breaking News, politics, Hip-Hop music and culture, fashion, and is likely working another! Boulder is the tool you can do whatever you want and break law. Officer, John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado police officer in likely. [ J @ 45aG1V followed Naropa university student Zayd Atkinson near his home charges but here we.. Confronting an African American man picking up trash and youre officer john smyly apology a!! Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the city attorney said occupancy building.. Settle with Atkinson for $ 125,000 column for Cassius Life, which focuses on adult beverages and their history is!: Thats a gun! ahead of its offered to settle with Atkinson for $ 125,000 James Freeman Live... An agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies: police authority and public and. And resides in the Community city added that Smyly is allowed to resign, and asked... The filmmakers grabbed their cameras and got to work he then told Atkinson he. The video, Atkinson said when he refuses to ID the way COP! To your email inbox to your email inbox, acted because of Zayd atkinsons race say said... And called in backup during the incident the investigation could not be located Thursday home in Boulder, Colorado and! Fires bean bags department policies: police confront black man in his own yard culture fashion... A jailable offense up the bucket and tool and walked away found Smyly violated two department policies to do,. Video surfaces showing officers confronting an African American man picking up trash in Boulder,.. Kind of restless, unsettled, he said Boulder either lacks the ability or will to out. Incident happened on March 1 on the property crash site of 'no '... In Colorado has resigned after confronting a black student picking up rubbish outside his shared accommodation determining Atkinson...