ATHOL — Three patrol vehicles are back in service, with the help of engineers at Ford Motor Co.
After hearing about other police departments having problems with carbon monoxide leaks in their vehicles Athol Chief Russell Kleber decided to have a trio of Police Interceptor Utility patrol vehicles built by Ford tested. Kleber was perhaps further motivated following reports that a police officer in Auburn, where Kleber once worked, passed out due to exposure to the odorless gas and crashed his cruiser on Aug. 1.
As it turns out, being proactive may have been a life saver.
One of the Athol department’s vehicles was taken out of commission after tests revealed elevated levels of carbon monoxide. Kleber said this vehicle, which is his department’s newest and has roughly 5,500 miles on it, tested at 31 parts per million, when even 1 part per million is concerning. However, the reading was zero parts per million when the vehicle was not being driven more than 65 mph with the air conditioner on.
Two other vehicles — including one used by Officer Craig Deveneau and Police K-9 Gronk — were also temporarily sidelined due to minor leaks.
Kleber said engineers visited the department and completed rigorous inspections, testing and repairs on all five of the department’s frontline cruisers.
“Ford stepped up and I’m impressed,” he said.
Michael Levine, the North America product communications manager for the Ford Motor Co., told The Recorder the engineers sealed any holes created during modifications after the vehicles left their factory. He said Ford has engineer teams working throughout the country, including at more than a dozen police agencies, and more than 50 vehicles have been fixed, with Ford covering the costs. The locations visited include Auburn.
According to a statement on Ford’s website, engineers have consistently found similar types of holes and unsealed spaces in the back of some Police Interceptor Utility vehicles.
“When a police or fire department routinely installs customized emergency lighting, radios and other equipment, they have to drill wiring access holes into the rear of the vehicle,” the statement reads. “If the holes are not properly sealed, it creates openings where exhaust could enter the cabin.”
Ford’s investigation into this matter continues, according to the statement.
For every vehicle with a carbon monoxide leak, Ford plans to check and seal off the rear of the vehicle where exhaust can enter, provide a new air conditioning calibration that brings in more fresh air during heavy acceleration typical of police driving, and check for engine codes that could indicate a damaged exhaust manifold.
Kleber said the five carbon monoxide detectors he ordered for his vehicles at a cost of $200 apiece have been delivered to his station.
Greenfield Police Chief Robert Haigh said his department installed basic carbon monoxide detectors in its vehicles and there has been no problem. He said he was unaware of how much the detectors cost.
Reach Domenic Poli at:
dpoli@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 258.
On Twitter: @DomenicPoli