The City of Butler Bureau of Police has purchased a new vehicle for its fleet and will convert it into a K-9 unit.

The vehicle is a 2022 Ford Interceptor, which was purchased from Lancaster Township for $20,000. The cost of the vehicle was split 50/50 between Butler County and the city. Part of the city’s portion of the cost will come out of the police department’s K-9 fund.

West Penn Vehicle Specialists, based in Johnstown, will convert the newly-purchased vehicle for use as K-9 unit for the cost of $4,400, through a Pennsylvania COSTARS contract.

The purchase of the car and the upgrade were approved by the city council during their meeting on Thursday, March 27. During the same meeting, the council also voted to advertise for sale a 2018 Ford Interceptor which was “surplus to the needs of the police department.”