The City of Butler got a new K-9 police cruiser. Lt. Brian Grooms, front, and K-9 officer Gunner will use the vehicle. Grooms is Gunner's handler. In back, from left, are Police Chief Ron Brown and Bruce Miklavic of Twin Willows Auto.

Butler K-9 officer Gunner has a new set of wheels.

The city's police department recently bought a vehicle in which Gunner, a German Shepherd and one of the department's two K-9 officers, can ride around on patrol.

The car, which is a gray 2009 Dodge Charger, was bought for $9,000 from Twin Willows Auto Sales in Valencia. It has around 20,000 miles on it, and Butler Police Lt. Brian Grooms, who is Gunner's handler, said it is in very good condition.

“Everything on it looks brand new,” he said. “The car looks like it hasn't even been run.”

The Charger comes equipped with police lights, a siren and a kennel. Grooms, who will drive the car, said the department looked for a vehicle already equipped for the job to save at least $4,000.

The money for the car came out of the department's K-9 fund at no cost to the city. It will replace one of the current K-9 vehicles, which is 12 years old and has more than 112,000 miles on it.

Grooms said the car has broken down on him twice while he was on patrol in the past year and a half. The car will be placed on reserve and used as needed.

“It was just a matter of time,” Grooms said of replacing the vehicle. “You get an old car like that, I don't think it's going to last. This was a good time to start looking.”

Grooms said the reason for the low mileage on the Charger is that it was likely used as a demonstration model, displaying its lights and kennel at various events.

The security system, a radio and computer stand will be swapped out of the old car into the Charger.

The Charger will aid Gunner as he tracks suspects and missing people, and as he pursues burglars.