The Lehighton Police Department will be getting a new police cruiser.

The borough council agreed to buy a police car that is equipped comparable to a state police unit.The new police car, which will have a video camera and a computer, is being purchased from Sunbury Motors at a cost of $46,272. One other bid was received from Whitmyer Auto Group of Mount Joy at a quotation of $47,170.Sergeant Joseph Lawrence of the police department said four firms were solicited to submit bids.Councilman Scott Rehrig said a local firm declined to bid because of the equipment being installed.The video equipment and detailing cost a combined $5,475, which is included in the package.The council is obtaining a three-year lease for the vehicle from Ford Motor Company, then will have a buy-back of the car for $1.In other police business, councilman Rehrig urged Lawrence to organize a walk through the community for some council members and members of the police department.He said a similar walk was organized by councilman George Kogut several months ago and was done in the evening.Rehrig said the walk brought to light some of problems and improvement suggestions for the community.He told Lawrence he would like the next walk to occur during the day.A letter was received praising the police department for the patrols it conducted on Trick-or-Treat night.Police patrolled the town on foot and on bicycles.The letter, from Rachel Quinn, stated, "As a teacher and a parent, I wanted to commend the police staff on an excellent job-well- done patrolling the streets. Many parents and teachers were discussing how pleased they were to see police officers on bicycles and in patrol cars."Quinn noted in the letter that she also spoke with students who were pleased with the police presence.Letters were sent also praising the fire police for their assistance on trick-or-treat night.In one other matter, Rehrig was granted permission to check on obtaining identification tags for all employees and punch clocks for employees to use."We have to be accountable to the taxpayers," said Rehrig.Carlos Teets, a member of the Lehighton Water Authority, interjected, "We will follow up on that at our Water Authority meeting."Rehrig was instructed to report back to the council.