Austin police to remove all Ford Explorers from service amid carbon monoxide concerns

[dalton99a]

http://www.twcnews.com/tx/austin/news/2017/07/28/ntsb-investigates-austin-police-ford-explorers-as-probe-into-exhaust-fume-leaks-expands.html

Austin police to remove all Ford Explorers from service amid carbon monoxide concerns
By Stef Manisero
Updated Friday, July 28, 2017 at 12:32 PM EDT

AUSTIN, Texas -- The City of Austin will begin pulling all 400 of the police department's Ford Explorer Interceptors from service beginning this weekend amid ongoing concerns over carbon monoxide leaks in the vehicles.

The Austin-Statesman reported that the move comes after days of discussion among top city officials, and that Interim Police Chief Brian Manley met with police union president Ken Casaday to inform him of the decision.

Federal investigators were in Austin this week, looking into the safety of the police department's vehicles. This after several Austin police officers reported incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning while on duty in their Ford Explorer SUVs.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration arrived Monday and wrapped up their investigation of the Austin Police Department's Explorer Police Interceptors on Thursday.

[MineralMan]

1. It's the shape of the rear of those vehicles.

It creates a low-pressure area at the lower rear of the car, even at highway speeds. CO leaks into the interior through poorly sealed hatch at rear. It's hard to fix, because the design of the vehicle's body creates that low-pressure area.

[Nevernose]

2. Why do they need 400 SUVs?

Is there a LEGIT reason they can't drive fuel efficient cars and save the taxpayers some money?