The Tacoma Police Department is poised to upgrade its fleet of police cars this month.

Tacoma City Council is scheduled to vote this week on whether to award a $414,885 (plus applicable sales tax) contract to Columbia Ford Lincoln of Longview, Wash., for the purchase of 15 current model Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicles.

According to City of Tacoma staff, the new vehicles will replace police cars that have reached the end of their life-cycle and are no longer feasible to maintain. The old police cars will be sold at auction.

The new model of police cars was selected because the current fleet model, the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, is no longer produced by Ford Motor Company. Additionally, the new vehicles are projected to get at least 20 per cent better fuel efficiency than the old vehicles.

Tacoma City Council is expected to vote on a purchase resolution regarding the new vehicles during its meeting on Tues., Oct. 15 at 5 p.m. at the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St., First Floor, City Council Chambers. The agenda and meeting materials are available online here.