NATCHEZ — The City of Natchez has been selected as the inaugural launch site for testing of high definition cameras with gunshot detection abilities.

Project NOLA, a New Orleans nonprofit foundation that operates a crime camera program in America, announced Sunday on social media that the City of Natchez has installed 10 cameras in the city that are now being monitored by the Natchez Police Department.

Natchez Police Chief Walter Armstrong said two of the cameras that have been installed feature Project NOLA’s new gunshot detection capabilities.

When active gunfire is detected by the equipment, the cameras begin to visually scan a 360-degree area with the capability to zoom into an area more than 1,000 feet away. At the same time, video is transmitted to NPD and Project NOLA’s National Real-Time Crime Information Center at the University of New Orleans.

The other eight cameras that have been installed are also high-definition cameras with the ability to zoom in to identify small details.

“They really are amazing,” Armstrong told members of the Natchez-Adams County Economic Council on Monday morning. “From a long distance you are able to identify people, cars and the numbers on car tags. The resolution is clear as a bell.”

Installation of the cameras was completed two weeks ago. Since then, the cameras have assisted in at least one arrest, Armstrong said.

Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell applauded the installation of the cameras.

“The more cameras we install, the better off we will be,” Grennell said. “Criminals will get the message that we don’t want them here.”

Armstrong said he did not want to reveal the location of the cameras in order to maximize their use.

When Project NOLA first installed cameras in New Orleans they were able to make several drug-related arrests before the cameras were publicized.

“Once it became known (where the camera locations were) then the criminal element left the area. We want to reap the benefit of having them up without people knowing,”

Armstrong said he would like to see more cameras installed in the city and is working to partner with local businesses or individual residents.

“Our job now is to try to sell this to the community to get more people involved,” Armstrong said.

Similar to Project NOLA, the city will partner with residents and business owners to provide cameras that transmit video via the Internet to the Natchez Police Department, Armstrong said, and several businesses have already signed up.

“We will pay for the storage, if you buy the camera and provide the power source and the WiFi.” Armstrong said.

Cost of the camera runs approximately $150, Armstrong said.