Lawrence deserves transparency.
In late 2024, the City of Lawrence quietly approved a live surveillance system bundled into a $3.2 million contract with Axon Enterprises without public input.Marketed as the Connect Lawrence or Community Connection program, this system is powered by Fusus, an AI-integrated policing platform that maps, livestreams, and stores footage from public and private cameras.
We're organizing to pause the rollout, demand a public hearing, and ensure oversight.
What's going on?
In November 2024, the City Commission approved a new body camera contract.Buried in that contract was Fusus, a national surveillance system that links public and private cameras in real time.In July 2025, the police began promoting it as “Community Connection”—with 112 cameras already integrated.There was no public vote, no citywide announcement, and no clear oversight.
We’re asking the city to:
🛑 Pause the rollout until the public is informed and involved🗓️ Put it on a City Commission agenda for open discussion🏘️ Create independent oversight to prevent abuse and ensure transparency
RSVP to Fight Unaccountable Police Surveillance!
Press & Media
📰 Read the News Coverage
- • Lawrence community members ask city commission to reconsider police camera integration program
- • Petition garners signatures pushing back on Lawrence police camera integration program
- • Experts warn of expanding surveillance as Lawrence police adopt camera integration system
- • Lawrence police program asks residents, businesses to register security cameras for police use
- • Kincaid Dennett: Program giving Lawrence police access to cameras needs review, transparency (Column)
Press inquiries may contact Mazzy Martinez at [email protected]
Contact Your Commision
Commissioners
Mike Dever, mayor
785-550-4909 • [email protected]Brad Finkeldei, vice mayor
785-550-9699 • [email protected]Lisa Larsen, commissioner
785-331-9162 • [email protected]Bart Littlejohn, commissioner
785-380-9413 • [email protected]Amber Sellers, commissioner
785-813-1381 • [email protected]
TO LEAVE PUBLIC COMMENT:
To email the whole commission:
[email protected]To have comment entered into the record: [email protected]
It is recommended to copy both of these emails in the message if you would like it to be entered into the record and for the commissioners to see it.
Sample Email
Dear Commissioner [NAME],I urge you to pause all new Fusus integrations and analytics until Lawrence adopts a clear oversight ordinance with community input.The Axon contract authorized far more than was ever disclosed. Without Commission action, the number of integrated public cameras will triple, ALPRs will be added, and AI analytics and private integrations will remain unregulated. This centralization also increases the risk that data could be compelled by federal agencies or out-of-state prosecutors, a gap that needs to be addressed before going forward.Cameras can be valuable tools, but trust has been damaged by how this was handled. Oversight must come first. Expansion can wait.Thank you,
[YOUR NAME]