A volunteer watchdog group is forming to keep an eye on the activities of Lawrence’s law enforcement agencies.

The Community/Police Relations Committee is being developed by the Douglas County American Civil Liberties Union, but ACLU officials said the committee would be independent of their organization.

The ACLU’s Robin Devine said the committee would review comments — positive and negative — about the performance of local law enforcement officers.

“Our goal is to promote the kind of law enforcement in Lawrence that is consistent with the quality of life we want in Lawrence,” Devine said.

Thursday’s announcement came during an ACLU-organized meeting at the Lawrence Public Library, where more than three dozen Lawrence residents discussed incidents — ranging from the 1980s up through last week — in which audience members said they had been harassed or profiled by police. In other incidents, they complained that officers had not been vigorous enough in enforcing the law. Many said there was a small group of “rogue cops” on the Lawrence Police Department.

Officers “have a lot of authority, a lot of power,” defense attorney Elbridge “Skip” Griffy said. “Sometimes the wrong people are drawn to that.”

Glenn Walker, vice president of the Lawrence branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said he lived in Eugene, Ore., for 18 years without being stopped by police during nighttime rides. Walker said he gets pulled over in Lawrence.

“Is there stereotyping?” Walker said. “Yes there is.”

¢ 6News video: ACLU members meet with local police

Lawrence City Commissioner Boog Highberger was the only elected official to attend the meeting. Afterward, he said the city might need to create its own citizens-police board.

“I was a little disturbed to hear so many potential reports of harassment and profiling,” Highberger said.

Douglas County Sheriff Rick Trapp attended the meeting.

“I think it’s important we come to these events, so they know we’re interested too,” Trapp said. He added: “I really feel good about our department.”

Police Chief Ron Olin was invited to the meeting but did not attend. Two Lawrence police officers were at the meeting. Lt. Dan Affalter said he did not believe the department contained rogue cops, alluding to the firing of Officer Stuart “Mike” Peck earlier this year after a judge determined Peck lied on a search warrant application.

Affalter said formal complaints about police performance would be investigated.

“It’s important for the Police Department to have a dialogue about our level of service,” he said. “The public trust is important to police service.”