Local police agencies respond to carbon monoxide concerns with Ford “Interceptor” SUVs

(UPDATE: After this report aired on CBS Local 2 News at 5:30 pm, Thursday, September 14th, 2017, Ford public relations representative Daniel Barbossa contacted CBS Local 2 by email, requesting that we add his comments to the online version of the story below. Barbossa’s comments have been added.)

The frightening incident was caught on a citizen’s dashboard camera.

It was a police cruiser, cutting across across lanes of traffic, and crashing in Newport Beach.

The officer behind the wheel was overcome by carbon monoxide fumes inside the Ford explorer SUV

The crash, is just one, in a growing number of cases around the country, in which officers and deputies are testing positive for exposure to carbon monoxide, after driving late model Ford “Interceptor” version Explorers.

Indio Police Sgt. Dan Marshall commented on the issue

“This carbon monoxide issue is definitely a concern,” said Indio Police Sgt. Dan Marshall.

Fortunately, no deaths have been reported as a result of the problem.

But, pressure is now mounting on Ford to recall the 126,000 Interceptor models deployed in fleets throughout the United States.

“All of our decisions are driven by the data available. When the data indicates a safety recall is needed, we will move quickly on behalf of our customers,” said Ford public relations representative Daniel Barbossa

Ford blames the problem on “postmarket modifications”.

“When a police or fire department routinely install customized emergency lighting, radios and other equipment, they have to drill wiring access holes into the rear of the vehicle. If the holes are not properly sealed, it creates an opening where exhaust could enter the cabin,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s Executive Vice President for Product Development.

Some experts think it could be related to visible cracks in the exhaust manifold of some of the explorers.

Ford disputes that assertion.

“All of our testing to date has not shown cracked manifolds contributing to the carbon monoxide levels in Police Interceptor Utilities. We’re continuing to investigate,” said Barbossa.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is now investigating.

“What concerns me most is maybe a city or a fleet that is ignoring the problem,” said Sgt. Marshall.

We contacted every law enforcement agency here in the desert to find out if they’ve had any issues with carbon monoxide being released inside their Interceptor SUVs, and to find out how they’re responding to the potential threat.

All police departments and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department tell us they have not had any problems with the harmful fumes entering the cabins of their vehicles.

“Obviously we have some concerns for the officers if gas is being leaked inside, not only for the officers, but prisoners and people in custody or anybody that we are transporting inside these vehicles,” said Palm Springs Police Sgt. William Hutchinson.

To monitor the air inside their Ford SUVs, some of the local agencies are installing carbon monoxide detectors.

We are told detectors are in the process of being installed in all 19 interceptors in the Palm Springs fleet.

In Indio, Sgt. Marshall says detectors are being installed in all 16 of their SUVs.

In Cathedral City, Commander Julio Luna says they’ve installed “a few” detectors, with more “being added” as their fleet of 12 SUVs are inspected.

Desert Hot Springs Police Chief Dale Mondary says they’re in the process of deciding which detector to use.

“Virtually from the moment that this story broke, or we got reports of it, we’ve been in contact with Ford, they’ve been very informative, provided us information, very receptive,” said Mondary.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, which provides police services to several desert cities is not installing carbon monoxide detectors on their 23 patrol SUVs used in the valley.

We asked the department why.

In a written response, a department spokesman said, in part, “Ford has not recommended this step nor has an exact cause of the problem been identified by the manufacturer. The department has very few ford explorers.”

The California Highway Patrol is also not using carbon monoxide detectors on their Ford “Interceptors”.

We contacted the CHP Headquarters in Sacramento to to ask why the agency was not installing the detectors in the statewide fleet, and a media relations representative would not answer the question.

But, CHP Officer Fran Clader provided a written statement, which said, in part, “Carbon monoxide (CO) hazards exist with every fossil fuel powered motor vehicle. like all vehicles, occasionally complaints arise and the California highway patrol (CHP) takes them seriously and addresses them on a case by case basis.”

To help mitigate the carbon monoxide threat, a Ford spokesperson tells us the automaker is willing to work with any agency or department which requests help, including performing inspections and making repairs.

Ford says it will cover the cost.

“According to NHTSA, no substantive data or actual evidence has been obtained supporting a claim that any alleged injury or crash allegations have been the result of carbon monoxide poisoning,” said Barbossa.

“Nobody wants to see any officer get hurt, especially on the job ever, and especially something like this that is possibly preventable,” said Sgt. Marshall.

A Ford spokesperson said the carbon monoxide problem has not been reported with Explorers sold to the general public.