We did not see any opportunity for harm. Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. The report concluded Smyly violated department policy during the encounter with Atkinson. Since Live PD and Cops was cancelled, James Freeman does LIVE STREAMING COP WATCHES. Obviously, I still have things to learn. If you or I did what Officer Smyly did to Zayd Atkinson, not only would we be immediately fired, we would be criminally prosecuted, Rathod said. The results of that review will not affect the settlement agreement. (Facebook . LOVELAND, Colo., Feb. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Meyer Natural Foods, a leading provider of natural and organic proteins, announces the appointment of John Keating as the company's new Chief . Such is the case of Boulder, Colo., police officer John Smyly over his interaction with Zayd Atkinson on March 1st this year. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. Boulder police said there is no evidence Atkinson was racially profiled. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly escalates the situation. Debris of trains lie on the rail lines after a collision in Tempe, about 235 miles north of Athens, near Larissa, Greece, March 1, 2023. Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. Based upon your concerns over the hire of former Boulder Police Department Officer John Smyly in the computer support section of the sheriffs office, the hire was given another review. At this point, Smyly called in for a cover car and told Atkinson he was obstructing a police officer and was detaining him and investigating him for trespass. 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. 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 . 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. Smyly, who had been on paid administrative leave since the incident, resigned prior to the conclusion of the disciplinary process, but police indicated the process would have likely resulted in suspension or termination. Opinion: Colorado farms going fallow? Thats my fault, I take responsibility. Ed Burke since 1969 won by Jeylu Gutierrez, Ald. He. 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. This was a temporary, non-enforcement job with no public contact or representation. 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. Letters: Proposed age limit for gun ownership in Colorado doesn't make sense, Skygazers will have a great view Wednesday of two planets that look like they are almost touching, In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/breaking and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. 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. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Video of the incident from Smyly's body camera shows him detaining . Atkinson later reached a settlement with the city. The Lookout is a free, daily email newsletter with news and happenings from all over Colorado. City Attorney Tom Carr said firing Smyly would have led to a drawn-out appeal and potentially allowed him to keep his job. The subject officer did not have probable cause to charge Mr. Atkinson with any crime. Read more here. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune). Finally, police confirm his story by asking someone else if he does, in fact, live there. He tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him. We would immediately lose our jobs.. Smyly, a 14-year veteran of the Boulder Police Department had no prior disciplinary action, it was. ", "I just told you I lived here and I told you that I'm working as well," 26-year-old Zayd Atkinson responded. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Cubs pitcher Drew Smyly is introduced at the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago, Jan. 13, 2023, in Chicago. Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. TwoFeather. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD, a black man confronted by a Boulder police officer. He says funding is key. 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. Oyeneyin was handcuffed and detained in his own home after police responded to a burglar alarm in process. At this point, Smyly called in for a cover car and told Atkinson he was obstructing a police officer and was detaining him and investigating him for trespass. One officer can be seen holding a rifle; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags. Located across the street from one another on Ohio Street in downtown Chicago, Pizzeria Uno and Due are owned by Uno Restaurant Holdings Corp., which announced it is selling its frozen pizza division to focus on expanding the restaurant franchise. CPR's Joella Baumann contributed to this report. The officer allegedly struck a Bridgeview teen more than 10 times in the face and head as he was laying face down in the street during an arrest captured on video last July. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. 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. He said he has had trouble sleeping and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. 10-1! The footage shows Smyly investigating Atkinson for trespassing. At this point, Smyly called in for a cover car and told Atkinson he was obstructing a police officer and was detaining him and investigating him for trespass. He has agreed to immediately seek other employment outside of the county government.. 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. 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. Atkinsons attorney Siddhartha Rathod said he was disappointed Smyly was not fired and instead was allowed to resign and remain on the citys payroll until 2020. I am not normally involved in hiring decisions. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. Im not tryi. Sign up here and we will see you in the morning! ", "I just told you I lived here and I told you that I'm working as well," 26-year-old Zayd Atkinson responded. 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. Patrick von Keyserling, communications director for the city, confirmed that the results of the internal investigation will not go into his file. Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. Based upon this investigation and concerns it raised, the Boulder Police Department will be initiating additional officer training concerning effective de-escalation of incidents, the department wrote in a release. "Shouldn't that be enough for you?". (Tribune photo by Nancy Stone). . You want to know what is really going on these days, especially in Colorado. Not for the "stupid price" of $150 an acre foot. "Well I believe that this man had approached me because I'm a black male in an all-white town," Atkinson said later. Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. He tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. 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. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. This was, We failed to consider the sentiment, or tr, equity training and discussions and are committed to, and working with county staff on whatever tools might help us in those, Evolving Doors Dance Moving Through: Bodies, Music, Images, Experience, Boulder County Neighbors Come Together to Support Former Lyons Resident After Racist Facebook Comments Spark Tension | Press Release, SF1 Birthday Bash at Ophelias Electric Soapbox, square product theatre presents return of Greg Woheads Celebration, Florida, Colorado county buys controversial phone-hacking tech using money meant to treat, prevent drug addiction, Impacted Residents Petition Continuous Air Quality Monitoring | Open Letter to the Erie Board of Trustees, On holding Bidens feet to the fire, disproportionate policing, and white supremacists: the Colorado Capitol on Inauguration Day 2021, Impeach Trump Car Parade and Rally: January 10th | Kenneth Wajda Photos, Former sheriffssergeant arrested for using excessive force | Press Release, NAACP Boulder County Letter to Boulder City Council on Police Accountability and Housing for Homeless during the Pandemic. Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. 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. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. Now that the two candidates have been determined for the runoff election for Chicago mayor, more of the aldermanic races are becoming clearer. One of the other officers arrived with a handgun drawn but holstered it, while another had a stun gun drawn. Our staff spoke to John Smyly yesterday concerning the controversy over his temporary position here. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune). One officer can be seen holding a rifle; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags. 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. pleasant employee. City Attorney Tom Carr said firing Smyly would have led to a drawn-out appeal and potentially allowed him to keep his job. He will leave as soon as possible, and we placed a written deadline on departure by the end of the year. In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role on May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. 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 collect $69,000 in salary despite violating department policies.