By Genevieve Judge, Local News 8 Reporter

POCATELLO - Thursday night the Pocatello City Council unanimously voted to allow the Pocatello Police Department to purchase four new cars using stimulus money.

To date the Pocatello Police Department has received $202,000 in stimulus money.  Part of that money was set aside to replace patrol and detective cars.  So far three cars have already been purchased for the detective division.

And after Thursday’s vote the city will buy three new patrol cars and one detective SUV.  "We’re able to replace older aging vehicles that the money has just not been there in the general fund.  This is going to be able to enable us to help us replace the vehicles within our fleet both patrol and detectives,” said Major Michael Stayner, Pocatello Police Department.

The Pocatello Police Department hopes to have the four new vehicles in the Gate City by the spring.  The Chubbuck Police Department also received stimulus money this year and they were able to purchase a new patrol vehicle as well.