Community Police Oversight Work Group

The Community-Police Oversight Work Group is established to assess existing policies, procedures, systems, and other information relevant to the receipt and investigation of complaints against law enforcement officers in the Lawrence Police Department and citizen oversight of the process. On June 7, 2022, the Governing Body voted to approve and authorize the mayor to sign the Community-Police Oversight Work Group (“Work Group”) Project Charter which serves as a guide for the Work Group. On April 4, 2023, the Governing Body adopted Resolution No. 7474 modifying the Charter to further refine the Work Group’s membership, description, purpose, expectations, and scope.

The City has contracted with Jonathan Morris of J Morris Consulting to provide facilitation services to support the efforts of the Work Group. Additional City staff will be available to assist the Work Group with technical knowledge and project support, including members of the City Manager’s Office, the Office of Equity and Inclusion, and the City Attorney’s Office. These employees will not serve as members of the Work Group but may attend meetings in a non-voting capacity.

• Attend the Community Conversations and share what is important to you with the Work Group Members
• Attend the Work Sessions in-person or view on Zoom to learn what is discussed
• Complete questionnaire to share your feedback about what is important to you: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2DGLCJK
• Share information about the Work Group with your friends and neighbors
• Look for additional opportunities to get involved once the Work Group presents its recommendations to the City Commission

Input from the public will be recorded during the Community Conversations and from responses to the questionnaire. The Work Group will consider your input as they deliberate over draft recommendations for the City Commission and will share with the public what they have learned from the public and how it has influenced the Work Group’s recommendations.

Work Sessions:

• May 22, June 5, June 26, July 17, August 14, August 21, and August 28 each from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Fire Station #5, 1911 Stewart Ave., Lawrence, KS 66046

Community Conversations:

• July 10 and July 31 each from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the Carnegie Building, 200 W. 9^th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044

The Work Group is a temporary task force created by the City Commission. The Work Group is expected to meet approximately eight times and produce a set of recommendations for improving the complaint process and community-police relations and oversight. The Community Police Review Board is a standing committee with its own charter, roster, and page on the City’s website.

The Work Group consists of 8 community representatives (5 appointed by the City Commission to serve on the Work Group and 3 who also serve on the CPRB) and 4 police officers of the Lawrence Kansas Police Department (including the Police Chief, a Deputy Chief, and two officers from the Lawrence Police Officers Association). See the Community-Police Oversight Work Group page on the City’s website for the member roster.

You can contact individual members of the Work Group directly or the Work Group Facilitator, Jonathan Morris at jmorrisconsulting@gmail.com or Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager at ctoomay@lawrenceks.org.