NATCHEZ, Miss. – City aldermen and the mayor closed the public out of their discussions Tuesday about getting an investigative technology company to assist the Natchez Police Department.
Mayor Dan Gibson said letting the public know details “would compromise our city’s ability to properly enforce our laws and to absolutely make an impact on some of the crime we are experiencing.”
State law does allow government boards to kick the public out of meetings that discuss “investigative proceedings” or the “transaction of business” for “security personnel, plans or devices.”
Prior to the Board of Aldermen closing its meeting Tuesday, Gibson said
“There is an investigative technology company offering a very good program for us.” However, the company’s name and what it’s offering was not divulged during the public session of the board meeting.
“I believe this is a matter that involves public safety and a discussion of which involving crime techniques could hamper our ability to see through this successfully,” Gibson said.
The board authorized the mayor to enter into an agreement with the company.
This comes as Natchez-Adams County officials have sounded the alarm about recent gun violence in the community. The city and county in November began a crime-fighting initiative dubbed “Operation Safe Neighborhoods.” It has Natchez police officers and Adams County sheriff’s deputies engaged in “saturation” patrols throughout the city and county to curb and investigate crimes and to make arrests.
The county and city boards have allocated funds to pay officers for the overtime work entailed in this joint operation.
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