F.O.P. Passes Resolution Calling on Moratorium on Ford Police Cars

releases.usnewswire.com ^

[chance33_98]

F.O.P. Passes Resolution Calling on Moratorium on Ford Police Cars; Safety of Crown Victoria Police Interceptors Questioned

8/5/03 1:37:00 PM

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To: National Desk

Contact: Tim Richardson of the Fraternal Order of Police, 202-547-8189

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today National President Chuck Canterbury spoke frankly about the decision of the membership of the Fraternal Order of Police to adopt a resolution which calling for a moratorium on the purchase of Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors (CVPI) because of concerns about the vehicles.

"There have been numerous incidents where law enforcement officers have been burned alive in otherwise survivable rear end collisions when CVPI fuel tanks were ruptured," Canterbury said. "The Ford Motor Company, which still denies any safety concerns l%Mt, have recommended measerNM to minimize the risk of tank punctures, but our members feel that they need to do more."

The resolution, which was adopted by the delegates at the F.O.P. 56th National Biennial Conference calls on all law enforcement agencies in the United States consider a moratorium on the purchase of any new CVPIs until such time as the Ford Motor Company agrees to retrofit existing CVPIs and all new model CVPIs with safety enhancements such as fuel tank integrity, without any charge to law enforcement agencies which purchased the vehicles.

"This is about officer safety," said Canterbury. "The risks inherent to the profession of law enforcement are one thing, but for police officers to be at risk because of known design flaws in their squad car is absolutely unacceptable."

The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement labor organization in the United States, with more than 308,000 members.

[Petronski]

.... without any charge to law enforcement agencies which purchased the vehicles.

It's an old fashioned stickup.

[Sloth]

What are they gonna drive instead? Hyundai Accents?

[kellynla]

Good! I wrote off Ford when they started flying the Communist Vietnamese flag at corporate headquarters in Lansing, MI. My first car and my last car were Fords but I won't be buying another one. And if anyone doesn't understand I won't try to explain it. I had to fill one too many body bags to, in good conscience, help the Communist Vietnamese economy. I have to look at this mug in the mirror every morning to shave. And until Viet Nam accounts for the missing American POW & MIA's I have no intention of contributing to their economy. And if you can't undertand that don't bother asking me to explain. Semper Fi

[jimt]

Comments from the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) on rear end collisions and fires.