Officer quits after confronting black man picking up trash
Source: Associated Press
Kathleen Foody, Associated Press Updated 8:56 pm CDT, Thursday, May 16, 2019
Photo: Siddhartha Rathod, AP
In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. (Siddhartha Rathod via AP)
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.
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.
City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinson's race. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said.
"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. "If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. We would immediately lose our jobs."
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Officer-resigns-for-confronting-black-man-picking-13850692.php
Doodley
(9,149 posts)yardwork
(61,715 posts)riversedge
(70,347 posts)Bengus81
(6,936 posts)Might not make the news but that fucker will be hired at the first place he applies.
rocktivity
(44,580 posts)Last edited Sat May 18, 2019, 10:03 AM - Edit history (1)
the $69K is peanuts.
P.S. Being "forced" or "allowed" to resign to avoid being fired is being fired.
rocktivity
Bayard
(22,181 posts)Driving While Black would get you shot. Now, its, DAWB--Doing Anything While Black.
ROB-ROX
(767 posts)This TURD broke the law and was REWARDED!!! Bastards like him should be in prison for their crimes. This guy will continue to break the law and this type of person will starts killing people.
softydog88
(126 posts)After about eight minutes, more officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson.
One officer can be seen holding a rifle; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags. One officer drew his handgun when he arrived but re-holstered it in less than a minute, while Smyly had his gun out until Atkinson put the trash-grabbing tool down, according to the summary.
The kid should have picked up the cop. There's your real trash.
gopiscrap
(23,765 posts)softydog88
(126 posts)Happy to be here.
Kashkakat v.2.0
(1,752 posts)and lame ass article doesn't say.
Another thing that baffles me - don't these racists know that nowadays there are actual black people who are middle class or even wealthy and educated and who attend colleges and stuff, just like middle class white folks???????????????
Kid is dressed Boulder cool, not like your stereotypical gang banger from the slums. Get a clue, idiots!
EarthFirst
(2,905 posts)plays in retirement and pension benefits; and if allowed to resign in a non-participatory role allows him to reach pension beneficiary status?
The article did not mention how long the officer had been with the department...
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)It would be nice if we had cushions like that at all our jobs
Someone needs to throw this story in the face of all those "But why didn't he just follow the policeman's orders?" -assholes...