When Lawrence Police Chief Khatib appeared before the City Commission to request approval for using grant funds to install permanent surveillance cameras along Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, the ACLU of Kansas & Western Missouri and allies were there to raise concerns about the implications for loss of privacy and civil liberties that resulted in the Commission tabling the request and directed the Chief Khatib to develop guidelines for the use of cameras before taking further action.

In the following months the ACLU organized a well attended public forum on the use of surveillance cameras and mobilized members to attend a meeting called by the Police Chief to review his draft of proposed guidelines.

We have now learned that Chief Khatib, responding to concerns raised at these events, has decided to not take any further steps towards installing surveillance cameras.  This issue could well come up again in the future, but for the time being the combination of community participation and a police chief open to hearing their concerns has netted a significant victory for civil liberties in Lawrence.