The Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of a new police interceptor vehicle which will be added to the department's fleet.

At a recent meeting, the board voted in favor of granting a $33,199 contract for a 2012 Ford sedan police interceptor vehicle that will be assigned to the police patrol division. The contract went to KME/Kovatch Ford Inc., Nesquehoning Township. Officials said the bid submitted by KME/Kovatch meets bid specifications and is the most economically frugal response to the township's needs.

Although Commissioner Vice President Philip Ginder voted with the board in awarding the police vehicle contract, he raised the question whether the police vehicles should be used for extended periods of time. He said the state police do use their vehicles for longer periods of time, noting mileage is not always a factor in replacing a vehicle. Ginder said he realizes the township vehicles are used more than state police vehicles on open roads and highways.

The new police vehicle is expected to sport the colors black and white, as the township is transforming the look of its police vehicles. There will remain maroon sand gold lettering trim and the township seal.