Cities vow to retrofit Ford cruisers’ fuel tanks
by Carlos Miller and Yvonne Wingett, The Arizona Republic
Hundreds of police officers and civilians gathered Monday night to remember Robert Nielsen, the third Arizona officer to die in a Crown Victoria explosion in less than four years.
Meanwhile, Phoenix and other cities said enough is enough and vowed to retrofit or replace the popular police cruiser that also left a fourth Arizona officer severely burned last year.
“The situation has just now peaked,” Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza said. “It’s time for Ford Motor Company to step up.”
Prompted by Nielsen’s death and by members of the Phoenix police union, the Phoenix City Council’s Public Safety Subcommittee voted Monday to retrofit most of its fleet of 735 Ford Crown Victorias with spongelike bladder gas tanks to reduce the risk of explosion on impact. The board also voted to freeze the purchase of its order of up to 200 patrol cars unless Ford offers the bladder option for new cars.
“We don’t have to buy Ford products anymore,” said Councilman David Siebert, who called the emergency meeting.
Rimsza agreed.
“There have been too many devastating accidents; they’ve got a product that is clearly dangerous when they sell it to us,” he said.
The Phoenix City Council will consider the subcommittee’s decision by July 3.
Despite lack of evidence that the bladders will solve the cruiser’s possible fuel tank flaw, Phoenix officials soon will order the first set at about $2,500 each; total costs could be upward of $1.5 million.
Another option would be to replace the Crown Victoria patrol cars with either the Chevrolet Impala or Dodge Intrepid, which are used in other cities.
But until a decision is made, thousands of Arizona police officers will continue driving the Crown Victorias.
“I would like to drive another car,” said Phoenix police Detective Carl Jaensson, who along with other Phoenix officers drove to Nielsen’s wake in their Crown Victorias. “I don’t feel safe right now in these cars.”
Jaensson said he believes the cars contributed to the deaths of three officers as well as to the near-death of Phoenix police Officer Jason Schechterle, who also attended the visitation at Chandler Christian Church.
“This problem needs to be resolved,” Jaensson said. “Hopefully Ford steps up to the plate.”
Chandler Police Chief Bobby Joe Harris opted not to take such a strong stance but admitted he did not feel safe in the police cruiser.
“I drive a Crown Victoria. Am I concerned? Yes,” he said.
Chandler officials are researching the car and reviewing lawsuits to determine their next step; they will meet June 27 to hear recommendations.
“While we’ve retrofitted the bolts, (Mayor Boyd Dunn) has asked that we study every way to retrofit the cars even more,” said Dave Bigos, a city spokesman.
The Paradise Valley Police Department also will request $25,000 next month to retrofit its 10 Crown Victorias with the bladder tanks, Police Chief John Wintersteen said Monday.
Republic reporter Diana Balazs contributed to this article.
Fallen Officer Remembered Cities vow to retrofit Ford cruisers’ fuel tanks
by Carlos Miller and Yvonne Wingett, The Arizona Republic
Hundreds of police officers and civilians gathered Monday night to remember Robert Nielsen, the third Arizona officer to die in a Crown Victoria explosion in less than four years.
Meanwhile, Phoenix and other cities said enough is enough and vowed to retrofit or replace the popular police cruiser that also left a fourth Arizona officer severely burned last year.
“The situation has just now peaked,” Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza said. “It’s time for Ford Motor Company to step up.”
Prompted by Nielsen’s death and by members of the Phoenix police union, the Phoenix City Council’s Public Safety Subcommittee voted Monday to retrofit most of its fleet of 735 Ford Crown Victorias with spongelike bladder gas tanks to reduce the risk of explosion on impact. The board also voted to freeze the purchase of its order of up to 200 patrol cars unless Ford offers the bladder option for new cars.
“We don’t have to buy Ford products anymore,” said Councilman David Siebert, who called the emergency meeting.
Rimsza agreed.
“There have been too many devastating accidents; they’ve got a product that is clearly dangerous when they sell it to us,” he said.
The Phoenix City Council will consider the subcommittee’s decision by July 3.
Despite lack of evidence that the bladders will solve the cruiser’s possible fuel tank flaw, Phoenix officials soon will order the first set at about $2,500 each; total costs could be upward of $1.5 million.
Another option would be to replace the Crown Victoria patrol cars with either the Chevrolet Impala or Dodge Intrepid, which are used in other cities.
But until a decision is made, thousands of Arizona police officers will continue driving the Crown Victorias.
“I would like to drive another car,” said Phoenix police Detective Carl Jaensson, who along with other Phoenix officers drove to Nielsen’s wake in their Crown Victorias. “I don’t feel safe right now in these cars.”
Jaensson said he believes the cars contributed to the deaths of three officers as well as to the near-death of Phoenix police Officer Jason Schechterle, who also attended the visitation at Chandler Christian Church.
“This problem needs to be resolved,” Jaensson said. “Hopefully Ford steps up to the plate.”
Chandler Police Chief Bobby Joe Harris opted not to take such a strong stance but admitted he did not feel safe in the police cruiser.
“I drive a Crown Victoria. Am I concerned? Yes,” he said.
Chandler officials are researching the car and reviewing lawsuits to determine their next step; they will meet June 27 to hear recommendations.
“While we’ve retrofitted the bolts, (Mayor Boyd Dunn) has asked that we study every way to retrofit the cars even more,” said Dave Bigos, a city spokesman.
The Paradise Valley Police Department also will request $25,000 next month to retrofit its 10 Crown Victorias with the bladder tanks, Police Chief John Wintersteen said Monday.
Republic reporter Diana Balazs contributed to this article.
Read more about deadly incidents and the Crown Victoria, on the Arizona Republic Online, click here: http://www.arizonarepublic.com/crownvictoria/