The Pocatello City Council approved a piggyback purchase Oct. 19 under the State of Idaho contract via Mountain Home Auto Ranch for four pursuit‑rated Ford Interceptor SUVs (model year 2026) at $50,162.28 each for a total purchase price of $200,649.12.

Council heard from Captain Dylan of the Pocatello Police Department, who said the department currently has enough vehicles for existing staffing but is short‑staffed; when staffing levels increase the department will be tight on vehicles. He said the plan is to rotate higher‑mileage vehicles out of service and that fleet retrofitting work (equipment installation and vehicle upfitting) will be done in‑house by the city fleet shop, which saves cost and avoids sending vehicles out of state for upfitting.

Council President Loehrick moved to approve the piggyback bid acceptance for police interceptors and to authorize the mayor’s signature on applicable documents subject to legal review; Council Member Mangum seconded. The motion passed on roll call.

Staff noted that vehicle delivery and equipment-installation timelines vary and that additional equipment must be ordered and installed after vehicle delivery before patrol use.