Biloxi Police looks to New Orleans nonprofit for help with crime prevention cameras

BILOXI, MS (WLOX) - Biloxi Police Department is looking to partner with a New Orleans based nonprofit to monitor and prevent crime.

The department wants to put up 10 cameras from Project NOLA throughout the city.

“It will help the police department to be able to get a leg up on crime prevention," said Cecilia Dobbs-Walton, a public affairs specialist for Biloxi. “It will also possibly help to deter crime in some areas.”

The cameras will record 24/7 and have the ability to pan, tilt, zoom, and playback video. It would almost be like having a real-time crime monitoring center apart from the police station.

The police department sees Project NOLA as one of the most successful and cost-effective crime camera programs in the country.

“It’s a very low cost," said Dobbs-Walton. “I mean, $375 dollars for a camera that’s going to be able to be placed on a building and record constantly.”

The department would pay the one-time fee of $375 per camera. The cost to operate the camera is an annual fee of $240.

The cameras are already being used in cities like Fairfield, AL, and Natchez, MS. The cameras in Natchez have a gunshot detection feature and, according to a Project NOLA case study, they have helped solve murders and take down drug dealing.

“The Biloxi Police Department has spoken with [Natchez Police] and they say their crime level is down and they can say nothing but good things about this project,” Dobbs-Walton added.

The police department has not decided which buildings the cameras will be installed on but according to the city council special meeting agenda, the cameras will be stored on 10 city-owned buildings.

The Biloxi City Council will vote on whether to approve the Project NOLA cameras at a special meeting on Tuesday morning.

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