The Kingfisher Police Department will be able to update its fleet of vehicles due partly to Chief David Catron’s shopping abilities and the fact the city commission was holding a special meeting.

Commissioners on Monday night approved the purchase of a 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe from Carter Chevrolet in Okarche at a price of $68,290.

The unanimous vote came at the beginning of a special meeting dealing primarily with personnel moves at city hall (see related story).

However, the agenda item was added last Friday when Catron was able to track down the elusive Tahoe in Okarche.

“As soon as they hit the lot, they’re gone,” Catron told commissioners.

KPD was approved for two new Tahoes in this year’s budget and they were ordered from General Motors.

“The two we’ve ordered, I’ve been told now that they should be built in August, so that’s next year’s budget,” Catron said. “So they’re still ordered, but they’ve basically been canceled, if that makes sense.”

That didn’t satisfy the department’s needs to update the fleet, so Catron began his search.

He started locally, but nothing was available, he said.

Catron searched multiple dealerships statewide and even out of state, but the availability was almost non-existent.

Then last Friday, the Tahoe at Carter was discovered by Catron.

Typically, Catron would have been out of luck as the purchase requires commission approval and the next regular city meeting isn’t until Feb. 13.

Fortunately, the commission had scheduled Monday night’s meeting the week prior in order to discuss items regarding the city manager position.

However, Catron was told just prior to the meeting that the Tahoe in question had a sale pending.

Upon City Manager Dave Slezickey’s recommendation, the commission still approved the purchase of the Tahoe in case it remained available.

If not, he said the commission could revisit approving a future Tahoe at the next meeting.

Twelve minutes after commissioners went into their executive session, Catron received word that the Tahoe was still available to purchase.

“I want to commend the chief for thinking outside the box on this one,” Slezickey said.

The new Tahoe will serve as the department’s command vehicle.

It will be equipped with light bars and other markings that had already been purchased in anticipation of the other incoming Tahoes.

“It will look just like the others,” Catron said of the rest of the department’s fleet.

The Tahoe currently serving as the command vehicle, which is equipped with the full pursuit package, will go into service as a patrol unit.

A 2013 Dodge Charger will be retired from the fleet.