DENVER, Colo. -- As police and city officials get ready for the 2008 Democratic National Convention in August, a local watchdog group is gearing up to keep an eye on the police.

Denver’s CopWatch has begun recruiting and training volunteers, in response to political activists’ promise that demonstrations next year will rival any seen to date surrounding a political convention.

"We're expecting tens-of-thousands to hundreds-of-thousands of protesters in Denver," said Mark Cohen with the local activist group "Recreate '68."

The group’s name refers to the widespread Vietnam protests at the 1968 national conventions.

"We want to re-create that spirit of mass political participation, and we hope to use the DNC as a catalyst to do that," he said.

With the '68 protests, though, came notorious clashes with police, and in more recent history, the 2004 national conventions prompted civil rights suits.

That's where Denver CopWatch members said they come in.

"We refuse to be abused," said Eric Wincott, CopWatch member. "We will be documenting everything, making sure police do not violate anyone's rights, by using excessive police force or brutality."

Last weekend, he said, CopWatch volunteers kept an eye on the Columbus Day parade, shooting video and taking still photos.

"It helps deter police from using excessive force or anything that would be out of the norm for a normal traffic stop," he said.

Now, the group is recruiting DNC volunteers by passing out flyers and posting ads on the website Craigslist.

Denver police said regardless of CopWatch, officers respect the first amendment, but at the DNC, public safety is the first priority.

"They're there and we exist with them being there or not," said Sonny Jackson, Denver Police Department. "We have a job to do to ensure public safety for the citizens of Denver, and if CopWatch wants to be there and observe, that's fine."

CopWatch volunteers aren’t the only ones training. Cohen said "Recreate '68" is also recruiting legal observers, mostly law students, to keep an eye on First Amendment rights.