Lawrence deserves transparency.

In late 2024, the City of Lawrence adopted the Fusus real-time surveillance platform on the consent agenda, without public discussion.When residents discovered the full scope of the contract, which included controversial AI analytics, ALPR integrations, and public-private camera networks, as revealed through a Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) request, community pressure won a pause on further integrations and directed the Lawrence Police Department to collaborate with the community on creating oversight.We are now focused on securing a permanent, transparent framework that governs how surveillance technology is approved and used in Lawrence.

The Lawrence Transparency Project is organizing to:

✅Put Fusus on the agenda
🟨Pause the integrations (?)
⬜Adopt durable oversight

What's new?

At a November 11th meeting, we delivered the full proposed ordinance to the Police Department to begin the collaborative review the Commission called for. As of March 2026, we have not yet received feedback from the department.
On March 10th, the City Commission took up a proposal to enroll the Lawrence Police Department in the federal LESO surplus equipment program. Community members showed up in person, online, and by email, and the item was pulled from the consent agenda for discussion.As a result, LKPD agreed to Commission approval for major acquisitions and public reporting on all procurements regardless of value.We believe this outcome reflects the importance of a formal oversight framework. The community working group the Commission directed Chief Lockhart to convene last September has still not been formed. We are continuing to gather community feedback as we work to finalize a strong, transparent oversight model for Lawrence.

• 📄 Read the Draft Ordinance
• 📝 Share Your Feedback
• 📄 View Police Military Surplus Proposal
• ✅ Contact Your Commission!

• ✍️ Press Kit
• ✖️ Fusus Contract (KORA Request)

You showed up in person, online, submitted written comments, and emailed your commissioners and the item was pulled from the consent agenda.As a result, LKPD agreed to City Manager approval for acquisitions valued $25,000-$99,999, Commission approval for anything $100,000 or more, and public reporting on all procurements regardless of value.This is a win for transparency.And it's also a reminder that the city still doesn't have a formal process for decisions like this one. That's what our draft Lawrence Technology Ordinance is designed to fix: locking in existing protections, requiring public approval before new surveillance tech is adopted, and creating ongoing accountability with a citizen advisory committee and annual public dashboard.

• 📝 Open Letter

📰 Read the News Coverage

• • Advocates’ draft ordinance aims to put safeguards on Lawrence police camera surveillance tech
• • 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)