began running down John F. Kennedy St.--across from Rix--to catch the 9:25 p.m. shuttle on Mass. Ave. The Rix shoplifting suspect was also reported to be running down JFK St at about the same time, Johnson said.

Police ordered Williams and Cochrane off the crowded shuttle, and officers searched Cochrane's jacket and a bag Williams was carrying, witnesses said. The officers then departed without any explanation, according to Williams and Cochrane.

Williams and Cochrane said yesterday that the Cambridge Department's absolution of its officers would only add impetus to their case.

"I just think that [Carney's] wrong. I don't know how he defines 'professionally,' but it's not the same as I do," said Cochrane.

"I'm really incensed by the whole thing. Obviously, they're going to protect their own," said Williams.

Cochrane and Williams will file a written complaint with Johnson today and plan to submit a complaint to the city's Police Review and Advisory Board Thursday, they said. The board, which has the power to subpoena officers, is a civilian committee that monitors the Cambridge Police department and can make recommendations for further action to the city manager.

Dean of Student Archie C. Epps III and Assistant Dean for Race Relations and Minority Affairs Hilda Hernandez-Gravelle have helped the students draft their complaints, the students said.

Williams and Cochrane have also met with representatives of the National Association of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to investigate the possibilty of pursuing legal action.

ACLU representatives said they might take on the case, Williams said. "They seemed interested. In fact, the initial legal advice I got from someone there was very strongly in favor of pursuing this." ACLU officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.

But Williams said the NAACP told him that they probably would not offer legal assistance "because the case didn't involve physical violence of any sort." Al Owen, the Boston branch manager for the NAACP, refused to comment on the case yesterday.

While Williams and Cochrane pursue their case through various official channels, students will hold a rally today in front of University Hall at noon to support the two.

They hope to persuade the University to make a statement on the incident and to lay down new police guidelines, Williams said. Hernandez-Gravelle will speak to the crowd about recourse for those who believe they have been harrassed, students said.

Matthew M. Hoffman contributed to the reporting of this story.