Forum set for Tuesday on downtown cameras

The idea of placing police-operated surveillance cameras in Downtown Lawrence will be the topic of a public forum Tuesday evening.

Lawrence Police Chief Tarik Khatib, members of the American Civil Liberties Union and a Kansas University sociology professor are scheduled to participate in a forum at 7 p.m., Tuesday at the former Carnegie Library building at Ninth and Vermont streets.

The Lawrence City Commission in June agreed to accept a $46,800 grant to purchase cameras for the downtown area, but commissioners said they wanted a detailed policy in place before the cameras were installed.

Khatib previously has said the two to three cameras likely would be monitored during large events such as parades and community celebrations downtown. He also hopes eventually to have a system in place that would allow footage to be recorded and kept for about 48 hours in order for officers to review the tapes, if needed as part of an investigation.

Tuesday’s event is expected to give members of the public a chance to ask questions about the proposed camera program.