Two lawyers previously preparing racial-profiling lawsuits against Cincinnati will work together on one case instead.

        Ken Lawson and Ohio ACLU general counsel Scott Greenwood met Thursday and decided to consolidate efforts. Other lawyers also may get involved.

        They are gathering examples of citizens who say they've been racially profiled, or stopped by Cincinnati police officers solely because they are black.

        “There are advantages to working on one coordinated effort with as many people as we can bring to the table,” Mr. Greenwood said Friday.

        When talks about a possible suit began in November, the ACLU initially worked with members of Cin cinnati Black United Front, the group known for its boycotts of Cincinnati restaurants and businesses. The group's leader, the Rev. Damon Lynch III, then switched lawyers to Mr. Lawson, saying Mr. Lawson was already further into the process because he had several existing lawsuits with race components.

        “I think when things finally come together,” Mr. Greenwood said, “the real stakeholders will be pleased with the depth of the talent that we have assembled and the seriousness of the approach.”

        Cincinnati officials say racial profiling might have gone on in the past, but that they don't think it's a problem now. Fraternal Order of Police President Keith Fangman says officers wouldn't risk their careers to profile people and are too strapped for time on the streets anyway to drive around looking only for African-Americans.

        The lawyers still are talking strategy, including how to use the existing suits or whether they should file a new one. They also are whittling the list of possible plaintiffs, looking for the ones with the most legitimate claims.

        Black United Front members logged 300 residents' stories during Saturday sessions last month.

        “We are looking at several credible people,” Mr. Lawson said, “teachers, postal workers, regular citizens who have been humiliated, harassed or inconvenienced.”

        The ACLU has filed more than a dozen similar lawsuits elsewhere, including in Pittsburgh, Maryland and New Jersey. In most, officers have been required to track the races of drivers stopped.

       Marie McCain contributed to this report.
       

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