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Ten police vehicles and five new officers were added to the Selma Police Department this week.

Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr. announced at a press conference on Tuesday at Bloch Park about the leasing of new vehicles. The new vehicles will cost the city $10,000 monthly for 60 months, totaling over $400,000. Two evidence technicians were also hired.

“This is an investment in public safety,” Perkins said. “The public needs to know where its money is going and what actually is taking place in Selma as it relates to public safety.” 

Assistant Chief Natasha Fowlkes also was at the press conference and said the maintenance on the older vehicles became expensive.

“To get a new fleet of vehicles would help tremendously on the amount of monies that we’re paying monthly on vehicle maintenance to upkeep old vehicles,” Fowlkes said. “Some officers had to share vehicles.”

The city council tabled the discussion to purchase more vehicles for the SPD.