Shreveport Police Have Not Reported Problems with SUV’s

Shreveport police have a new fleet of Ford SUV's on the roads and KEEL News has asked some questions about these vehicles since other communities have been having problems.

Austin, Texas has pulled more than 400 of the Ford Interceptors from the streets after more than 70 officers got sick from carbon monoxide fumes.

KEEL News got this statement today from Shreveport Police Chief Alan Crump:

“The police department is not aware of any exhaust issues with the 90 2016 and 27 2017 Ford Interceptor SUVs the department owns. The department has received no complaints from officers relative to any exhaust fumes in the vehicles. We have been in contact with Ford since February when national media reports first alleged some sort of issue with the exhaust in 2011-2015 year model Interceptor SUVs equipped with the auxiliary climate control systems. None of our units have the auxiliary climate control systems installed.

Austin is not the first city with this problem. A police officer in Newport Beach, California, crashed his police SUV into a tree after passing out out while driving. 

The feds are now getting involved in the act. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will now be checking out more than 1.3 million Explorers from 2011-2017 model years.

Chief Crump added:

"If there is some sort of recall, we will work with the appropriate dealership to schedule and facilitate repairs. The police department has vehicles in the shop every day for a variety of repairs and we will continue to provide professional police services regardless of which vehicles are being serviced and/or repaired. As far as pulling the vehicles off of the street, the department will always do what is in the best interest of the men and women of the Shreveport Police Department, the City of Shreveport and the citizens we have sworn to serve and protect.”

Ford Motor Company sent this message to KEEL Tuesday morning:

“Safety is our top priority. We have not found elevated levels of carbon monoxide in regular Ford Explorers. To address police customers who drive modified vehicles in unique ways, we are covering the costs of specific repairs in every Police Interceptor Utility that may have carbon monoxide concerns.”