Those are the statistics that bear on the Zayd Atkinson drama, in which no shots were fired, no Taser was deployed, no pepper spray was used, no tickets were issued, and no arrest was made. Such is the case of Boulder, Colo., police officer John Smyly over his interaction with Zayd Atkinson on March 1st this year. Naropa University student Zayd Atkinson speaks about being racially profiled by a Boulder Police officer for picking up trash with a wand on his own property. Mr. Atkinson raised his voice and yelled., Smyly said he felt threatened by the trash grabber. He drew his Taser and later transitioned to his handgun, both weapons were pointed in a downward direction in front of the officer., The subject officer said that he did not believe that the Taser would be effective, because Mr. Atkinson was wearing a heavy coat, the summary states. The charges were dismissed after Lawrence completed a deferred sentence; he filed suit in March 2021, asserting that his First and Fourth AmendmentChange made to existing documents, resolutions, or ordinances rights had been violated. I thoroughly believe I was profiled," Atkinson said. Finally, police confirm his story by asking someone else if he does, in fact, live there. Boulder has agreed to pay $95,000 to Sammie Lawrence, a Black man arrested in 2019 while filming a police interaction with unhoused individuals. Atkinison sued, and in March of 2020 he was awarded $125,000 in a settlement with the City of Boulder. Or mail cash/check/precious gemstones toP.O. 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. The officers arrived and later left after they determined Atkinson had the right to be there. . The officer decided to self-initiate contact with Mr. Atkinson, According to the incident summary, the reason Smyly decided to monitor the student is that he saw Mr. Atkinson manipulating an unknown object in his left hand as he held it close to his mouth, prompting him to drive closer to Mr. Atkinson to see what he was doing.. Outside review validated BPDs procedures. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. An attorney for Atkinson called the agreement with the city of Boulder "ridiculous." "Boulder is essentially saying we're going to pay this officer and let him resign for threatening Zayd's life . ", A police internal affairs report obtained by ABC News shows Smyly's decision to attempt to detain Atkinson "was not supported by reasonable suspicion that Mr. Atkinson was committing, had committed, or was about to commit a crime. Original Post: . Additionally, the proper protocol would have been for the officer to walk away after Mr. Atkinson produced his student identification card and explained what he was doing. "Shouldn't that be enough for you?". City council is set to approve the payout during a special Monday night meeting , the only non-coronavirus item on the agenda. He found none. Video and reports of the incident, during which Atkinson was repeatedly asked for identification showing he lived at . "There are instances like this where people don't come out alive. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) A Florida man left paralyzed when a police officer shot him after mistaking his handgun for his stun gun filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the city, the officer and . They unanimously approved the payout Tuesday. Help make the Beat better. The vast majority of young black men who are shot and killed fall victim to other young black men NOT to police officers of any color. . Mr. Atkinson should not have been stopped. They said they didn't find any evidence of racial profiling. but it can also be stressful. For more information, please see our The subject officer then activated his body camera and decided to self-initiate contact with Mr. Atkinson to determine what he was doing and if he lived or worked there. Tunnel vision is a common affliction in internal investigations, especially when it conveniently allows police departments to avoid severe allegations like racism. The report also lauded the internal affairs sergeant for thoroughness, including checking Smylys stop data. In a statement released on Thursday, The city of Boulder announced that an investigation found that Smyly violated two police department policies: Troyer also is investigating a separate incident in which a police officer arrested a black man with a cane who was filming officers interacting with homeless people. Officer Smyly too had been polite. Though the (Professional Standards Unit) only investigates about three Class 1 cases a year, those cases will be handled under much less stress, and the risk of error due to time pressure and workload will be reduced, if trained support staff is ready when needed.. We hope this settlement will prompt introspection from City officials, whoselofty rhetoric around policing has lagged far behind the reality of Boulders pattern of abusivepolice conduct.. He was charged with obstructing a peace officer and resisting arrest. Name Age in 2023 Role From Until; 1: Abdalla, Raja Aulia Rezza : Rep: 2015-01-29: 2015-02-03: 2: Abdullah, Hugh Idris : Denver, Colorado 80205 While the stop itself was wrong, some things were done right during the encounter itself. Atkinson was allegedly racially profiled by a Boulder Police officer for picking up trash on his own property. In response, Mr. Atkinson handed Officer Smyly his student identification card. The Boulder police officer who confronted a black Naropa student picking up trash outside his residence in March was . He then begins commands for the student to sit down on the pavement . I felt obliged to set 'em straight:https://t.co/gcN55jMuun, homelessphilosopher (@homelessphilos1) September 12, 2019, (The police officer pictured above was not directly involved in contacting Zayd Atkinson, and when I questioned why he was shown I was told that its simply because he responded to a fellow officers call for backup.). Atkinson. I didn't know what else to do besides, you know, to fight with my voice and to practice my rights, which were thoroughly being breached.". Backup officers who were called to the scene and led by a sergeant quickly determined that Mr. Atkinson lived in the building and was engaged in his work study job. <p>In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd . 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. Prolonged litigation will adversely impact those efforts. The former Boulder police officer who resigned after pointing a gun at a Black Naropa student has agreed to leave his temporary civilian position with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office after complaints from the Boulder County NAACP chapter.. John Smyly was found in violation of department policies and resigned in May 2019 after an internal investigation into Smyly's encounter with Zayd . Smyly asked Atkinson if he was permitted to be in the location. Here are some ways you can help. "If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Prolonged litigation will adversely impact those efforts. That's when the tense 22-minute stand-off ends. Atkinson said he's had trouble sleeping since the incident. "Officers ultimately determined that the man had a legal right to be on the property and returned the mans school identification card," the department said in a statement last month. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News . Smyly contacted Atkinson March 1 outside Naropa student housing at 2333 Arapahoe Ave. as Atkinson was picking up trash with a long metal claw. 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. But with the question about which specific unit he lived in, Mr. Atkinson paused, looked around, and began to become exasperated.. While no one was arrested, the police department launched an internal affairs investigation, and the city hired an outside investigator to review the incident.. May 17, 2019, 6:17 AM PDT. However, the internal affairs investigation included a review of a video from a building-mounted camera, which revealed Atkinson was eating food and using his mobile phone. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Fax: 303-578-4401. approval of past meeting minu, which historically does not receive discussion. We should know where he is and if he's allowed to work as a cop or in a field that requires public trust. Denver, Colorado 80205 Was there a perspective we missed, or facts we didnt consider? He is originally from Hawaii and enjoys the beach, camping, golf, beer and writing third-person bios about himself that exaggerate how outdoorsy he is. 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 Naropa University student who was outside his home. "I continued to go back to work and pick up trash and clean up my grounds.". 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PUBLISHED: May 16, 2019 at 9:28 a.m. | UPDATED: May 16, 2019 at 11:48 a.m. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. By Ben Kesslen. Telephone: 303-578-4400 Although Zayd is a little-known and marginal figure in the standard account of the rise of Islam, he was originally a key figure in the Islamic foundation narrative, according to David S. Powers, professor of Near . The police internal investigation concluded Smyly violated department policy during the encounter with Atkinson, and the independent report backed those conclusions, saying Smyly made some pivotal mistakes including asking for Atkinsons date of birth when he was not entitled to that information and mistakenly believing he had reasonable suspicion that a crime was occurring. Per Boulders charter, settlements over $10,000 have to be OKd by city council. The subject officer notified dispatch and initiated what he described as a consensual contact.. By Breanna . Thats a gun, Zayd Atkinson said, according to the body camera footage. "I couldn't help but notice you sitting on the patio out there," officer John Smyly says in the video. The officer eventually pulled out his gun and called for backup. Meanwhile, Zayd said talk is cheap. approval of past meeting minu Want more stories like this, delivered straight to your inbox? Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo . As the subject officer got closer, he could also see that Mr. Atkinson was picking items up off the ground with the long metal object [a trash grabber] and placing them into a white bucket that he was holding. Class 1 Professional Standards investigation for alleged violation of: ", "I just told you I lived here and I told you that I'm working as well," 26-year-old Zayd Atkinson responded. He drew his handgun after Mr. Atkinson stopped behind the building out of sight of the street. . This is one of those bad-apple cops the citizens of the country should keep track of. "I need to verify who you are," Smyly says. At one point, Atkinson said he turned his back and walked around to the back of the building as the officer followed him with a Taser in his hand, he said. The first, in which Naropa student Zayd Atkinson was confronted by armed officers while picking up trash outside his home, drew national media attention and sparked local protests. Will Denver voters elect a mayor who will stop enabling homelessness. There are still liberal snowflakes trying to stir up indignation over the overblown drama of the Zayd Atkinson incident. ", "I thought that once the firearm was out that that meant that he was going to try to kill me," Atkinson told "Good Morning America" in an interview airing Friday. May 16, 2019 / 5:17 PM The City is committed to learning from this incident and moving forward to become a safer, more welcoming, and respectful place for all. Hogwash! document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Throw me some cash if you've got it so I can keep you informed. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. The investigation found officer John Smyly violated two department policies and determined: ABC News' Nicholas Coulson and Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report. Im picking up trash and youre holding a gun.. Privacy Policy. Mr. Atkinson was repeatedly ordered to put down his "weapon" which was a trash grabber and plastic bucket. The body camera videos, the police reports . The City is committed to learning from this incident and moving forward to become a safer, more . Telephone: 303-578-4400 "I'm just checking to make sure that you have a right to be here, that's all. Previous post: Report: Jessica Aldama died after stillborn delivery in homeless encampment, Next post: Guest opinion: The housing Boulder refused to build, Change made to existing documents, resolutions, or ordinances. Newly-released body camera video shows how it all started. The city of Boulder said theres no evidence to support a claim of racial profiling, but the incident makes one question why Smyly felt the need to even approach Atkinson? "The officer's on a paid vacation right now; he's on a taxpayer paid vacation and he's at home being paid now for pointing a gun at a black man," Rathod told "GMA." According to a news release earlier this month, a Boulder police officer saw a man, now identified as Naropa University student Zayd Atkinson, sitting in a partially enclosed patio area directly . Boulder Police Department. Click here to read this article in its entirety at www.dailycamera.org, Rathod | Mohamedbhai LLC 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. All Rights Reserved. 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. Zayd Atkinson was the subject of a viral video in which he was surrounded by 8 Boulder Police officers, some of them brandishing firearms, as he was picking up garbage outside of his home. In their report, released today, the investigators backed the findings of the Boulder Police Department internal affairs investigation into Officer John Smyly and his interaction on March 1 with Naropa student Zayd Atkinson. ", 2 teen girls arrested in SF scooter attack, police say, Doctor urges that heart health be a year-round priority, Eli Lilly cuts insulin prices up to 70% amid pressure to slash costs. 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. The Moving can be an exciting experience. Lawrence, in a prepared statements. Required fields are marked *. Mr. According to city records included in Lawrences lawsuit, Lolotai used force on residents 81 times between January 2017 and June 2020, including using his firearm to gain compliance 38 times. Executive Summary. Zayd Atkinson, 26, told ABC News he's still fighting to overcome the "traumatic experience" of being racially profiled by Colorado police officers. I'm blessed that I got out alive and unharmed," he said. He called the incident a reflection of a larger racial problem within Boulder, which is about 81 percent white and less than 2 percent black, according to census data. An internal affairs investigation found the officer "did not have probable cause to charge Atkinson with any crime" and "should have ended his contact" as soon as Atkinson gave him his name and . It stated that he is a student at Naropa University. He said he gave the officer his ID and key card for the building, but the situation escalated as Atkinson refused to acquiesce when the officer ordered for him to sit down. "I believe that this man had approached me because I'm a black male in an all white town. The report notes Boulder police Chief Greg Testa got the first complaint about the incident on March 3 from Atkinsons mother, and referred the matter to internal affairs on March 4. I'm freaking picking up trash on my property which is where I live. 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. It has historically had problems with minority communities," Rathod said. . Internal Affairs Investigation Case Number: IA2019-001. * Zayd Atkinson speaks before Boulder City Council on March 18, 2019, about how he was treated by the Boulder Police officers while picking up trash in his own yard. When demonstrators took to the . The city added that Smyly resigned . First published on May 16, 2019 / 5:17 PM. We offer these observations so that the city does not take action that inadvertently and irretrievably breaks a system that did not need fixing.. However, none of the officers explained why they wanted him to sit down. Mr. Atkinson was picking up trash on his property and had not committed a crime. More officers -- 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn. "I was suffering with a lot of anxiety, a lot of depression. Zayd Atkinson a university student of Naropa was held at gunpoint by 6-7 Caucasian Police Officers for simply picking up trash on his property. The staff person would be trained and specialized in the (Professional Standards Unit) process, forms and administrative functions, and should do other duties secondarily, rather than vice versa, the report read. Here, the PSU sergeant and command staff did not succumb to it.. Mr. Atkinson was picking up trash. 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. Boulder City Attorney Tom Carr and Atkinson's attorneys at Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC issued a joint statement on Thursday. Funny he changed his display name to John S., but didn't change the URL from his full name. Up to this point, Mr. Atkinson had been polite but surprised by Officer Smylys presence, the independent report read. Had Officer Smyly understood the law, the contact would have ended without trauma, the report read. Atkinson said he's trying to work through the painful incident and wants to meet with city officials to start a dialogue about their policies and officer training. . A Boulder police officer has resigned following a confrontation with a black college student who was picking up trash in his yard. 0:24 - Zayd A. Video of the . Your email address will not be published. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. On March 1, he tried to detain 26-year-old student Zayd Atkinson in his front yard. The City of Boulder concluded the investigation into a March 1, 2019 incident involving an encounter between Zayd Atkinson and Boulder Police officers. While he said he appreciates Boulder police releasing the numbers, he believes real change is still years away. "Not only that you know I'm a black man, I have dreads. Video and reports of the incident, during which Atkinson was repeatedly asked for identification showing he lived at the property he was cleaning, made local and national headlines and led to the city revamping public oversight of Boulder Police Department. We would immediately lose our jobs." A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. 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. Atkinson showed a Naropa ID but at one point refused to comply with the officer's orders anymore and began picking up trash once more. The independent report also echoed the Boulder police report conclusion that there was no evidence of racial bias on the part of Smyly. April 5, 2019. 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 city of Boulder stated, that while the finding likely would have resulted in suspension or possibly termination, Officer Smyly resigned prior to the conclusion of the disciplinary process., John Smylys resignation agreement with the city was negotiated by City Attorney Tom Carr, who explained that the resignation immediately removes Officer Smyly from law enforcement and prevents his reinstatement to the Boulder Police Department., Get the top DEI news delivered straight to your inbox, 5 Biggest News Stories of the Week: February 23, 5 Biggest News Stories of the Week: February 17, Race, Homelessness and the Role of Corporate Social Responsibility, How Companies Are Celebrating Black History Month, 5 Biggest News Stories of the Week: February 9. A Naropa employee eventually arrived on scene and verified Atkinsons identity, and Atkinson was released with no charges. Reporting Officer: SMYLY, J. Mr. Atkinson and the City are settling any potential claims arising from this interaction so that the parties may focus on the continued healing of both the community and Mr. Atkinson. I asked Atkinson if he had anything with his address listed on it. The department issued a statement saying the "officer's decision to attempt to detain Mr. Atkinson was not supported by reasonable suspicion that Mr. Atkinson was committing, had committed, or was about to commit a crime, therefore he did not have authority to detain Mr. Click here to sign up for a weekly newsletter, from Boulder Beat. This wasn't enough for Officer Smyly. Boulder is set to issue a $125,000 settlement payment to Zayd Atkinson, the black Naropa University student who was confronted by a now-former city police officer last year while picking up trash outside his school housing unit. Several officers responded, including a supervisor, according to the police department. When Smyly asked for more information, Atkinson refused and walked away. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. Atkinson." The officer who confronted Atkinson resigned from the Boulder Police Department, and the Department enhanced oversight . The report released with the body camera footage noted the officer did not have authority to detain Mr Atkinson, or probable cause to . We also know from our experience that reliable, impartial internal affairs processes can be hard to come by. If it were not for that cellphone footage, would there have been an internal investigation? Atkinson was holding a bucket and a metal trash picker in front of his residence on March 1, when a Boulder police officer confronted him and asked him if he was permitted to be there. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Bodycam footage of the incident emerged and sparked outrage. This is incredibly frustrating to watch. But sometimes there's just no excuse for police behavior. Lawrences arrest came later and with less fanfare. 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They wanted him to sit down attorneys at Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Rights... You or I were to do this, delivered straight to your inbox May 16, /. Naropa employee eventually arrived on scene and verified Atkinsons identity, and exclusive reporting polite... Atkinson had been polite but surprised by officer Smylys presence, the sergeant...