KNOXVILLE, TN - Knox County's Commission approved the purchase of 65 patrol cars for its sheriff's agency, after a recommendation to add 125 patrol cars, reports WBIR-TV.

The initial recommendation would have cost $3 million (though this amount has already been allocated in the budget, according to county records), and would reduce maintenance costs for the fleet over the long run, the media outlet reports.

The county's resolution RLA-R-11-2-905 addresses the issue because the County must meet a deadline to order 2011 Ford Crown Victoria patrol cars before Ford phases them out. The automaker is ceasing production on the vehicle later this year.

Commissioner Amy Broyles has pointed out that the County Commission has under-funded the sheriff's office for several years, which has led to the need to replace these vehicles.

County records stated that the total vehicle fleet consists of 278 marked patrol cars and 159 unmarked vehicles. Of the marked patrol cars, 125 of them have more than 100,000 miles on their odometers, and these new patrol cars would replace the high-mileage vehicles in the fleet.

Read the full story at WBIR.com.