One of the cars will be assigned to the patrol sergeants, one to the corporals and one to the detective, leaving the patrolmen, who put the most miles on a car, to work with the older models.

"I think it's prudent to keep the mileage down for the first year and a half," Chief Joseph Timko told the police commission Tuesday. "We're not going to have 18 drivers (a car), we're going to have three drivers per car."

The department is leasing the 2003 Ford Crown Victorias for $22,286 a year for three years. After that, the commission can buy the cars for $1 each.

Technically, the city of Farrell is leasing the cars, while the commission is paying all the bills.

While it was explained to council that regional police departments cannot lease vehicles, that's not the case, Timko said. The leasing company could not find a credit rating for the department and refused to allow the lease. The department has financed the purchase of cars in the past without problems, officials said.

In the future, the department can present its audit report for the previous year and become eligible for a lease, Timko said.