ATHOL — A cruiser has been temporarily removed from the Athol Police Department’s fleet after testing positive for carbon monoxide, Chief Russell T. Kleber announced Thursday.
Kleber had all his department’s vehicles tested for elevated levels of the odorless gas in response to reports that an officer in Auburn, where Kleber once worked, passed out due to carbon monoxide exposure and crashed his cruiser Wednesday morning. That officer is one of three in his department to have been hospitalized due to carbon monoxide and was in stable condition Thursday, according to ABC News.
The vehicle that unidentified officer was driving and the one Kleber has taken off the streets are 2017 Ford Explorer Police Interceptors. Kleber said the cruiser is his department’s newest and has 5,500 miles on it. He said the vehicle tested at 31 parts per million, when even 1 part per million is concerning.
“Ford needs to get out in front of this,” Kleber said in his office, adding that he has contacted the global automotive giant and is “awaiting instructions” on what to do next. “Honestly, I was shocked. I couldn’t believe it.”
He noted, however, the reading was zero parts per million when the vehicle was not being driven more than 65 mph with the air conditioner on.
This problem has popped up across the country. In a statement issued last week, Ford Motor Co. said it is taking action to help address the concerns of first responders who operate Ford Police Interceptors, though drivers of regular, non-police Ford Explorers have no cause for worry.
“While there have been reports of exhaust odors in some regular Explorers, those instances are unrelated to reports of carbon monoxide described by some police departments,” the statement read. “If a vehicle has such an odor, customers should bring it to a Ford dealer to address that issue.”
Ford’s investigation into this issue is ongoing. The company has discovered holes and unsealed spaces in the back of some Police Interceptors that had police equipment installed after leaving Ford’s factory, according to the statement.
Kleber said he started testing his vehicles after being notified of the Auburn issue by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. He said the Athol Fire Department assisted with the testing and has provided portable monitoring units. Kleber added that readings recorded zero parts per million in all his department’s vehicles when the windows are open.
Athol Town Manager Shaun A. Suhoski said he intends to have all municipal vehicles tested as a further precaution.
“The safety of our employees is paramount to the community,” he said in a statement. “Chief Kleber and the town will take every precaution to keep our officers safe while we further investigate a permanent solution to this matter.”
Kleber said he has ordered carbon monoxide detectors for his vehicles, at a cost of $200 apiece, and expects them to be delivered Tuesday.
He said he is glad he had his vehicles tested, especially the one that carries Gronk, the department’s police K-9, and K-9 Officer Craig Deveneau.
“I love the officer — but I love Gronk more,” he joked.
Kleber said that vehicle is equipped with a special air filtration system for such a scenario.