NATCHEZ — The City of Natchez is taking steps to outfit Natchez police officers with body cameras.

Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell said the request for body cameras came out of the first meeting of the mayor’s crime task force this week.

Grennell recently created the task force to address residents’ concern after a recent crime wave.The Natchez Board of Aldermen voted Thursday to initiate the process of obtaining 16 body cameras through state contract instead of purchasing them directly, which could result in savings for the city.

The city would lease the equipment, rather than purchase it.

Natchez Police Chief Daniel White told the board initial estimates for the cameras and the service contract would cost approximately $750 per camera each year with a five-year contract, with the cost totaling approximately $60,000.

White said he originally considered leasing 30 cameras, but scaled back plans since that would cost approximately $112,000 over a five-year contract.

White said 16 cameras would cover two shifts, and officers could leave the cameras at the station for the next shift to use.

The police department, White said, has been exploring the option of adding body cameras to its officers’ gear for some time. Body cameras are becoming increasingly common in police departments across the country in the wake of police violence.

“I feel body cameras are very important because they serve as that extra eye for the officer and the citizens,” White said after the meeting. “And you have more transparency. People act better when they know they’re being watched and recorded, and (officers) act better, and the people they encounter on the street are more cooperative.”

Ward 6 Alderman Dan Dillard said he supported officers wearing body cameras, but wanted to make sure in light of other additional expenses the city is looking to review, the city obtains the cameras in the most cost-efficient manner.

Leasing the cameras likely makes the most sense, Dillard said, because in five years, new technology would probably mean the department would need to upgrade the cameras.