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U.S.A.:Senator asks Ford to retrofit cop cars
Fire suppression system just for future vehicles
August 13, 2003
BY JOEL STASHENKO
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ALBANY, N.Y. -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., urged Ford Motor Co. on Tuesday to retrofit Crown Victoria police cruisers with a fire suppression system that Ford will offer as an option on 2005 models.
"It's great that Ford has come up with this new system for its 2005 models, but what about the 350,000 police cars that are already on the road?" Schumer said.
In announcing the technology last week, Ford said police cars on the road now cannot be retrofitted because the system uses advanced electronics and sensors that must be integrated into a new computer system.
Schumer said Ford should be able to overcome those hurdles.
"Although installing the new fire safety system in these vehicles may create logistical and structural challenges, I am confident that Ford's world-class engineers will be able to resolve such problems," Schumer said in a letter to Ford Chief Executive Officer William Clay Ford Jr.
Police unions and others say the Police Interceptor bursts into flames when hit from behind at high speeds.
Ford said the great speeds involved in the accidents caused the fires and that no model can be fireproofed under those circumstances.
However, Ford announced last Thursday that it will offer a fire suppression system on Police Interceptors starting with the 2005 model. The system will release chemicals to douse fires in the vehicle's fuel system following a severe accident, giving officers time to get out of their vehicles.
Ford spokeswoman Kristen Kinley said the company has developed the suppression system, a fuel tank shield and a Trunk Pack to prevent objects in the back of police cruisers from puncturing the fuel tank during a rear-end accident.
Schumer also called for protective bladders, similar to those used in some race cars, to be put into Police Interceptor fuel tanks to prevent punctures. Kinley said Ford has found the bladders do not hold up over the high miles and heavy duty driving experienced by Police Interceptors.
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Stacy94PGT
My first car was a 67 Mustang Coupe, 2nd one was a 67 Cougar XR-7, 3rd one was a 66 Mustang Coupe. Why did I get rid of these cars for ? I know why, because I'm stupid, stupid, stupid. 
My next Ford.....
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