WHEELING — The Wheeling Police Department’s fleet of vehicles has increased to more than 70, many of which have been added as part of the department’s new take-home cruiser program.

From many different aspects, the take-home vehicle program has been a tremendous success for the department and the city, officials said.

While the program is expected to greatly extend the longevity of police vehicles, the department still has to retire old vehicles and rotate new ones into the fleet. Members of Wheeling City Council this past week approved legislation that will bring a total of nine new vehicles to the department.

Along with radios and other related equipment needed to outfit those vehicles, the total cost of the purchases approved last week exceeded $517,000.

With more than a half-millio

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