Heres a look at where some ward races stand: View election results, read our full election coverage at chicagotribune.com/elections and see which mayoral candidate received the most votes in your ward. 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. Smyly was hired by the sheriffs office in January on a two-year term position as a civilian training and development coordinator in the sheriffs computer support unit. . According to the report, Smyly asked Atkinson whether he lived in the building, which was Naropa student housing. Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune). Ed Burke since 1969 won by Jeylu Gutierrez, Ald. A Kentucky man charged in the deaths of three law enforcement officers during an ambush in a small Appalachian town has been found dead in his jail cell. City Attorney Tom Carr said firing Smyly would have led to a drawn-out appeal and potentially allowed him to keep his job. Police body camera footage released Thursday provided a full video account of the tense encounter, which had gained national attention based on video shot by someone inside a student dormitory at Naropa University, a liberal arts school associated with Buddhism in the city of Boulder. Officer John Smyly was among the Boulder Police Department members who rousted Naropa student Zayd Atkinson for picking up trash at his own home in March 2019. The shooting was one of the deadliest . My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled, he said. Smyly can be heard saying, You have a dangerous object in your hand and you are failing to put it down., When Atkinson points out you are holding a gun, while he has a trash grabber, Smyly says, I feel threatened because you are not putting it down., Atkinson at several points asks for Smylys supervisor and says, Youre not going to get away with murder. At about 8:20 a.m., Smyly was in his patrol car when he saw Atkinson "from a distance" at 2333 Arapahoe Ave. "manipulating an unknown object in his left hand." Smyly drove closer and observed. The Boulder Chapter of the NAACP, which emailed the Camera about the hire, decried Smylys hiring in a statement. Im picking up trash! Such is the case of Boulder, Colo., police officer John Smyly over his interaction with Zayd Atkinson on March 1st this year. He said he has had trouble sleeping and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. The Boulder police officer who confronted a black Naropa student picking up trash outside his residence in March was found in violation of department policies and is resigning following an internal investigation. Under the agreement, Smyly resigned his police role on May 9 but will remain an employee through February without performing any work. Former officer John Smyly will continue to have an unblemished history with the Boulder Police Department. Police body camera footage released Thursday provided a full video account of the tense encounter, which had gained national attention based on video shot by someone inside a student dormitory at Naropa University, a liberal arts school associated with Buddhism in the city of Boulder. John is not enjoying, agreed to immediately seek other employment outside of the county government. That's when the tense 22-minute stand-off ends. "Give him his ID back and we're outta here," one of the officers is heard saying. "I couldn't help but notice you sitting on the patio out there," officer John Smyly says in the video. A person can also be heard telling Atkinson he was likely racially profiled, but police determined that was said by the Naropa employee, not any of the officers. 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. 9191 46 Comments 15 Shares Share After about eight minutes, more officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. 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When Smyly asked for an address and date of birth, Atkinson walked away and began to pick up trash again. He shared that he slept on the decision, but he clearly didnt think about how it would land with the community or those few diverse members of his staff. John Smyly was found in violation of department policies and resigned in May 2019 after an internal investigation into Smylys encounter with Zayd Atkinson in Boulder on March 1, 2019. They also asked Pelle to extend an invitation to Smyly from the NAACP to participate in a healing justice model, modeled after the restorative justice process used in the criminal justice system. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. He says funding is key. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. According to the Boulder County Sheriffs Office, Smyly was hired in January on a two-year term position as a civilian training and development coordinator in the sheriffs computer support unit. Tracking the Chicago Blackhawks moves before the NHL trade deadline. Read more here. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. We would immediately lose our jobs.. 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. 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 address. When Mr. Atkinson walked away, continuing to pick up trash, the subject officer believed he had probable cause to charge Mr. Atkinson for obstructing a police officer. Officer John Smyly (Photo: Boulder Police Department) Since Live PD and Cops was cancelled, James Freeman does LIVE STREAMING COP WATCHES. Atkinson said he did and gave Smyly his Naropa student ID. At one point the officer says, "you're probably going to get tased.". 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. 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 address. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream, a black man confronted by a Boulder police officer. Venus, the moon, Mars, and Jupiter are all visible in the eastern sky above Lake Michigan before sunrise June 23, 2022, in Chicago. Boulder officials did not immediately return a request for how much Smyly would be paid during his time on leave. 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 The report indicated none of the officers, including Smyly, ever pointed a gun or stun gun at Atkinson. 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. pleasant employee. A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. TV Q&A: Is a Pittsburgher writing for CBSs East New York? Smyly was allowed to resign, and is likely working for another department at this time. Smyly resigned prior to the conclusion of the disciplinary process, but police indicated the process would have likely resulted in suspension or termination. 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. City Attorney Tom Carr said firing Smyly would have led to a drawn-out appeal and potentially allowed him to keep his job. He tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him. We can help you keep up. The subject officer did not have probable cause to charge Mr. Atkinson with any crime. Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Council of American Islamic Relations, speaks as Travis Grant, second left, acting national director of Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and family attorney Zaid Abdallah look on, as they address charges against an Oak Lawn police officer Feb. 15, 2023. Newly-released body camera video shows how it all started. Newly-released body camera video shows how it all started. as they address charges against an Oak Lawn police officer Feb. 15, 2023. . "Well I believe that this man had approached me because I'm a black male in an all-white town," Atkinson said later. We will try to b his position and transfer the work and have him finish the projects he has in progress on our RMS replacement so that we dont have to start over. (Giannis Papanikos/AP). Now that the two candidates have been determined for the runoff election for Chicago mayor, more of the aldermanic races are becoming clearer. Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. 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. ", 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. 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.. Atkinson refused, then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away. 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. Atkinson later reached a settlement with the city. "My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled," he said. 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. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. Atkinson said he did, and Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. 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. Some understood the past controversy in his role as a city police officer, so they brought this decision to some of our executive staff members, including myself, for discussion. Im picking up trash! Thats my fault, I take responsibility. Smyly said he noticed Atkinson on the rear patio and wanted to see if he lived or worked there. 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