BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Delano City Council approved the purchase and implementation of approximately 20 surveillance camera units in the city.

The proposal by the Delano Police Department went before the council on Tuesday night.

In a 5-0 vote, the council decided to move forward with the purchase.

In a post on Facebook Wednesday, the department said

"This approved proposal, along with the investigative efforts of our law enforcement professionals, will work toward reducing and solving violent crime in our city."

Chief Robert Nevarez spoke with 23ABC earlier this month about the cameras and said something needed to be done to combat the violent crime the city is seeing.

“Criminals need to know that law enforcement is always there and always working on ways to find those responsible for crimes and bring them to justice,” he said.

In a city the size of Delano, Chief Nevarez says the amount of violence is simply too high.

The approval by the board allows the department to purchase about 20 cameras costing about $160,000 per year.

Nevarez told 23ABC they would be placed in high crime areas and along paths often traveled after crimes are committed, like the 99 freeway which cuts through the middle of the city giving criminals an easy exit path.