BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The effort to make downtown safer for visitors already includes extra patrols and talks of private security. Soon, surveillance cameras could be added to the mix to deter crime and catch criminals.

The Bakersfield Police Department is already in a trial phase to see how the cameras might work, but it'll still be about six months to a year before cameras are up and operational.

"What we're looking forward to do is a public safety camera project which will install cameras in the downtown areas and reaching over to the eastside and the areas most known for property crimes and violence," said Lt. Joe Mullins of the BPD's Special Enforcement Unit.

The goal of the cameras is to deter such crimes, use the video to identify suspects and allow officers to know what they're getting into. While it's a new tool for Bakersfield Police, it's something used throughout the country and world, and once it's up and running the public will know about it.

"We're not going to make any kind of secrets about where these cameras are located," Mullins said. "We want them to know that if you commit a crime in these areas, you're going to get caught."

Surveillance cameras aren't anything new to downtown, in fact, the cameras can be found anywhere from the GET Bus Terminal to parking garages and local businesses.

Set Free Ministries at 18th and O Streets even has several on its building.

"Just because the fact that the cameras are there, kind of hopefully cause people not to do things," said Pastor Mike Salazar.

Admittedly, the cameras haven't always worked, both operationally and as a deterrent.

"Not too long ago someone came by, not sure if it was a group, and they scratched in their names or crew name on all of the windows, so they had to replace all of the windows," Salazar said.

While the cameras have their ups and downs, don't expect the eyes in the sky to increase overnight, as the project is still being developed.

"There are many things that have to be worked out, among them the policies and procedures and some of the technology issues," Mullins said.

One of the issues is getting the video to be streamed not just to the station, but into patrol units that would be responding to an incident.

The city is presently working on finding funding for the project as officials continue to try and make downtown safer.