Examined. "There is a problem with law enforcement's interaction with minority communities.". The officer who confronted Atkinson resigned from the Boulder Police Department, and the Department enhanced oversight . I was having very strange dreams and couldn't really sleep," Atkinson said. Zayd Atkinson, a student at Naropa University in Boulder, . 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 . The (Professional Standards Unit) sergeant hand-searched each of Officer Smylys stops and looked for any disparities based on the race of the individual contacted, the report read. City council is set to approve the payout during a special Monday night meeting, the only non-coronavirus item on the agenda. Zayd is an actor, who was emboldened to behave as he did precisely because he knew nothing bad would happen, and hundreds of Boulder liberals would hail him as a hero. Smyly resigned prior to the conclusion of the disciplinary process, but police indicated the process would have likely resulted in suspension or termination. Denver, Colorado 80205 But Smyly kept insisting Atkinson tell him his unit number, wanting further proof that he lived there. 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. Atkinson. 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. 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. ", 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 citysettled with Atkinson in March 2020 for $125,000. Prolonged litigation will adversely impact those efforts. 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. I'm freaking picking up trash on my property which is where I live. April 5, 2019. . The City of Boulder approved a $125,000 payment to Atkinson in 2020. . The report also lauded the internal affairs sergeant for thoroughness, including checking Smylys stop data. 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. Up to this point, Mr. Atkinson had been polite but surprised by Officer Smylys presence, the independent report read. [ Pasco County Sheriff's Office ] Nedra Miller . 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. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Tracking the drought: Map shows conditions across SF Bay Area, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7, a black man confronted by a Boulder police officer. Mr. Help make the Beat better. The Moving can be an exciting experience. Here are some ways you can help. During the 16-minute standoff, multiple officers politely and calmly asked Mr. Atkinson to drop the trash grabber and sit down so they could talk, the report read. The body camera videos, the police reports . and our 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.. Email your thoughts to, established a new citizen oversight group. Mr. Atkinson should not have been stopped. He found none. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Several officers responded, including a supervisor, according to the police department. I'm not doing anything illegal, and you're not going to f------ tase me," Atkinson said in the video. The situation -- which was captured on video -- drew criticism for what student Zayd Atkinson said was an instance of racial profiling. We should know where he is and if he's allowed to work as a cop or in a field that requires public trust. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News . Boulder City Attorney Tom Carr and Atkinson's attorneys at Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC issued a joint statement on Thursday. The footage shows Smyly investigating Atkinson for trespassing. Your email address will not be published. approval of past meeting minu Want more stories like this, delivered straight to your inbox? 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. "Boulder police began looking into the incident on Friday and early this morning launched an official internal affairs investigation.". While he said he appreciates Boulder police releasing the numbers, he believes real change is still years away. Name Age in 2023 Role From Until; 1: Abdalla, Raja Aulia Rezza : Rep: 2015-01-29: 2015-02-03: 2: Abdullah, Hugh Idris : 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. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. All rights reserved. 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. The City of Boulder, CO and Zayd Atkinson, a black Naropa college student has agreed to settle any civil claims regarding an incident involving the Boulder Police Department. 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 . Boulder and Zayd Atkinson, a black Naropa student who was confronted by a police officer while picking up trash outside his apartment, have agreed to settle any civil claims involving the incident. Help make the Beat better. 2701 Lawrence Street, Suite 100 In a statement released on Thursday, The city of Boulder announced that an investigation found that Smyly violated two police department policies: On March 1, Officer Smyly approached Zayd Atkinson, 26, at his residence to investigate a possible trespass. There are still liberal snowflakes trying to stir up indignation over the overblown drama of the Zayd Atkinson incident. 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. 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. "Mr. Atkinson and the . According to the police report, Smyly asked Atkinson . "Boulder is essentially saying we're going to pay this officer and let him resign for threatening Zayd's life, for racially profiling Zayd," said Atkinson's attorney, Siddhartha Rathod. / CBS Colorado. 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 . Smyly, a 14-year veteran of the department, resigned from active duty on May 16. They unanimously approved the payout Tuesday. Atkinson told the officer that he lived in the building and showed him his school identification card. Mr. Atkinson was picking up trash. 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. Zayd Atkinson, the Naropa University student who was detained on his front doorstep . Internal Affairs Investigation Case Number: IA2019-001. Class 1 Professional Standards investigation for alleged violation of: He then begins commands for the student to sit down on the pavement . and his friend also told officers Atkinson was a . Lawrence's arrest came later and with less fanfare. Lolotais departure was unrelated to that investigation or the many excessive force allegations that plagued him every since his time at the Denver Sheriffs Department. It was a frightening experience. Atkinson." 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. Smyly contacted Atkinson March 1 outside Naropa student housing at 2333 Arapahoe Ave. as Atkinson was picking up trash with a long metal claw. It has historically had problems with minority communities," Rathod said. When demonstrators took to the . Or mail cash/check/precious gemstones toP.O. 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. 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. "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. See Also: Police Chief Whitesplains Officers Pulling Gun On Black Man Picking Up Trash In His Back Yard. The City is committed to learning from this incident and moving forward to become a safer, more welcoming, and respectful place for all. University of Colorado Boulder Officer Drew Matthews (image via department) Under the anonymity of the internet, a University of Colorado Boulder police officer trolled . In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. "Well I believe that this man had approached me because I'm a black male in an all-white town," Atkinson said later. 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. Finally, police confirm his story by asking someone else if he does, in fact, live there. 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. Atkinson beleives he was "penalized for practicing my rights," and his attorney, Siddhartha Rathod, said the officer's punishment doesn't reflect that. He and his lawyer, Siddhartha Rathod, spoke to "Good Morning . All Rights Reserved. By Breanna . Additionally, the City arranged for the departure of the officer. https://old.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/cijav8/officer_pulling_out_his_gun_on_a_student_outside/. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); copyright 2023. Based on the history of race relations and law enforcement in the United States, and the particular circumstances of the encounter, Mr. Atkinsons anger was justified. However, none of the officers explained why they wanted him to sit down. 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. The city settled with Atkinson in March 2020 for $125,000. By Ben Kesslen. 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. This report is an executive summary of a personnel investigation into the allegation of serious misconduct involving a Boulder Police Officer. 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. 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. 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