Police departments nationwide are taking action over defective Ford Explorer patrol vehicles.
Carbon Monoxide fumes from the vehicles are seeping inside, potentially sickening the officers and sometimes causing them to lose consciousness.
According to a CBS report, Vermont State Police and other departments in the Northeast have installed carbon monoxide monitors in their vehicles, and two departments in Texas have pulled all of their Explorers off the road.
Austin, Texas Police Association President Ken Casady said on CBS This Morning that the issue is of upmost concern.
“If this is not done by the end of the week, we’re going to have big problems,” said Casaday. “Officers are worried about it.”
Over 2700 complaints and 41 injuries have been reported thus far on Explorers made from 2011 to 2017, the bulk of which have came from regular citizens, not just police.
Ford Motor Company released a statement saying “Safety is our top priority. We continue to investigate. We have not found elevated levels of carbon monoxide in non-Police Ford Explorers. To address police customers who drive modified vehicles in unique ways, we are covering the costs of specific repairs in every Police Interceptor Utility that may have carbon monoxide concerns, regardless of modifications made after leaving Ford’s factory.”
Chapel Hill Police Spokesperson Ran Northam said that the issue has been brought to their attention and they are looking into it, but have not had any experiences yet.
The Chapel Hill Police Department has 11 Ford Explorers that fall in the year-model range which is experiencing problems.
Carrboro Police Captain Chris Atack said that they have two Explorers in their fleet and have not experienced any issues yet.
Related Stories
‹

On the Porch: Commissioner John Foley: Pittsboro UpdatesThis Week: Travel was John Foley's first passion so a career in the airline industry was natural. The smiles on the faces of the people he met while circling the globe shaped the person he is today. After studying medicine and graduating from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science degree, Foley began a 20-year career as a kidney dialysis technician. He even donated a kidney to a patient he was treating in Durham NC. In his latest chapter, Foley is a realtor and and town commissioner leading Pittsboro NC forward during a time of remarkable change.

Chapel Hill Seeking Public Input in Selecting New Police ChiefThe Town of Chapel Hill is providing residents the opportunity to give feedback and guide its search for the next Chapel Hill Police Chief. After Chief Chris Blue announced his intention to retire, the police department started seeking a replacement. To help, the town government recently released a short survey where residents can share their […]

New UNC Police Chief Aims to 'Make Campus Proud' of Department With students coming back to campus and the first week of classes commencing, newly hired UNC chief of police Brian James says he is excited to build community trust and keep the school safe this semester.

Town of Chapel Hill Passes Budget, Allocates $14M to Police DepartmentThe Town of Chapel Hill passed a resolution to create immediate reform of its police department’s activities – prohibiting certain uses of force and ending traffic stops for low-level violations – but they’re not done yet. 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck spoke with Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger about steps the town is taking to […]

Police Investigating 4 Cars Stolen in Short Stretch in Chapel HillChapel Hill Police are investigating reports of four separate vehicles being stolen from South Columbia Street late Sunday night. A spokesman for the police say the cars were stolen from 304 South Columbia Street, which is the registered address for the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house. Police report keys to all four vehicles were left […]

Pedestrian Struck in Chapel Hill Crash Friday MorningA pedestrian was struck on Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard in Chapel Hill on Friday morning. Police confirmed that an individual was transported for treatment of what appeared to be minor injuries following a collision that closed the thoroughfare near the intersection with Municipal Drive. The collision closed the southbound lanes of the roadway for […]

Chapel Hill Police Ask for Help Locating Missing ManChapel Hill Police are continuing the search for a man who was reportedly last seen on September 25. Authorities said 33-year-old Griffiths Heyhoe was last seen in the area of Greene Street in Chapel Hill. Police described him as a white male, approximately 6 feet 3 inches tall with a thin build. He has brown […]

Chapel Hill Police Make Arrest in Sexual Assault CaseChapel Hill Police arrested a 46-year-old man in connection with a sexual assault that occurred earlier this month in the parking deck of an apartment complex. Authorities said Vernon Lamont Reed was arrested Monday and charged with first-degree forcible rape, robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and kidnapping. […]

Police Charge Driver After Pedestrian Struck in Chapel HillA driver has been charged after hitting a pedestrian on a major Chapel Hill street last week. Police said on Monday that 20-year-old Terry Tyrone Green has been charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Officers responded to the pedestrian crosswalk on East Franklin Street between Estes Drive and Elliot Road […]

Chapel Hill Police Asking for Help Locating Sexual Assault SuspectChapel Hill Police have released surveillance video from the night of the alleged sexual assault. Police are asking for public assistance in identifying the man seen in the video below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZMbIP7QYUQ&feature=youtu.be Chapel Hill Police are investigating an alleged sexual assault that occurred early Friday morning. Authorities said that the assault took place in the […]
›