Public Safety Committee October 14, 2026

The Lawrence City Council Public Safety and Emergency Management Committee met on October 14, 2026. Members approved minutes from four prior meetings. The main discussion concerned Lawrence Police Department’s 35 Flock license-plate-reader cameras, which have been in use since March 2021. Police described how the cameras capture still images, their investigative uses, 30-day image retention, access controls, audit logs, and procedures for sharing information with other agencies. The department said it recently renewed its Flock contract for the current fiscal year; no contract amount was stated. Police also noted a vendor presentation scheduled for the following day to demonstrate an alternative system, with any potential demo, negotiations, and funding request subject to later review and approval. No new purchase or funding action was approved at this meeting.

By unanimous roll-call votes, the committee tabled the Flock camera item, an item on shooting statistics and public-safety technology, and an item on contractor and developer compliance with city ordinances and permits. Police agreed to provide updated shooting data and incident locations for a future discussion; the chair also requested that city inspection officials be invited to address the compliance item. Members discussed city-camera maintenance and budget constraints, but no specific allocation or spending action was taken.