City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. 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. Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. The iconic deep dish chain is focusing on expanding its franchise restaurants. Our staff spoke to John Smyly yesterday concerning the controversy over his temporary position here. 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. 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. 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. . Keyserling could not say if an officer still employed with the city would have the record included in their file. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. "Give him his ID back and we're outta here," one of the officers is heard saying. 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 This was a temporary, non-enforcement job with no public contact or representation. Pelle added the decision was very difficult because Smyly didnt violate any policies and has been a very productive, pleasant employee. Smyly will leave as soon as possible, once the projects hes working on are complete, with a departure deadline of the end of the year, according to Pelle. But an independent review of the confrontation found no impropriety in the procedures . Obviously, I still have things to learn. Former officer John Smyly will continue to have an unblemished history with the Boulder Police Department. One officer drew his handgun when he arrived but reholstered it in less than a minute, while Smyly had his gun out until Atkinson put the trash-grabbing tool down, according to the summary. Venus, the moon, Mars, and Jupiter are all visible in the eastern sky above Lake Michigan before sunrise June 23, 2022, in Chicago. 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He tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him. Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. He said he has had trouble sleeping and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. 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. City Attorney Tom Carr said firing Smyly would have led to a drawn-out appeal and potentially allowed him to keep his job. Not for the "stupid price" of $150 an acre foot. (Tribune photo by Nancy Stone). All Rights Reserved. He tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him. Old post, but he moved to Longmont, CO and became a rent a cop, according to his LinkedIn.Funny he changed his display name to John S., but didn't change the URL from his full name. 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. I am not normally involved in hiring decisions. as they address charges against an Oak Lawn police officer Feb. 15, 2023. . One officer drew his handgun when he arrived but reholstered it in less than a minute, while Smyly had his gun out until Atkinson put the trash-grabbing tool down, according to the summary. 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. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. 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. He can be heard saying in the body cam video, Youre probably going to get tased in a second, because you have a weapon. Smyly then drew his handgun, telling police he believed the stun gun would not be effective because Atkinson was wearing a heavy coat. Atkinson refused, then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away. It takes a good days drive to cover Colorado, but well help you do it in a few minutes. A video of the incident was posted to social media, and in it Atkinson can be heard telling police he is on his own property and is just picking up trash. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly escalates the situation. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly escalates the situation. According to the report, Smyly asked Atkinson whether he lived in the building, which was Naropa student housing. 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 said it could not support a claim of racial profiling in the encounter, but Smyly was found to have violated two department policies. As part of a settlement with the city, Smyly will resign from the police department today but will remain under city employment until February 2020 as he exhausts accrued holiday, sick and administrative leave. 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You want to know what is really going on these days, especially in Colorado. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. 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. He tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him. 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. Opinion: Colorado farms going fallow? But Carr did elaborate on the decision not to fire or suspend Smyly in the statement. 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. 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. The other responding officers were cleared of any wrongdoing by the report, but the department said the encounter has uncovered the need for further training. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role on May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. Wake up to the day's most important news. 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 . Newly-released body camera video shows how it all started. . Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez declares victory over political machine, Billionaires son emerges as winner, set on addressing crime and development, Embattled Ald. Now that the two candidates have been determined . Cubs pitcher Drew Smyly is introduced at the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago, Jan. 13, 2023, in Chicago. My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. Video of the incident from Smyly's body camera shows him detaining . Im picking up trash, and youre holding a gun!. Im not tryi. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. The contact evolved into a stop and detainment that caused multiple officers to respond. Read more here. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! The subject officer did not have probable cause to charge Mr. Atkinson with any crime. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. The phenomenon is known as a conjunction, which is when astronomical objects seem to be near each other based on how we see them from Earth. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to tase him. The citizens of Boulder should be outraged that Boulder either doesnt have the ability or the will to fire this officer and root out discrimination from this police department.. The Boulder Chapter of the NAACP, which emailed the Camera about the hire, decried Smylys hiring in a statement. Day 's most important news dormitory when a white police where is officer john smyly now in Boulder a white police officer Feb. 15 2023.... Officer Feb. 15, 2023. a statement his job video, Atkinson responds by shouting: a. 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