Delivery of Folsom Ford police cruisers delayed

Supply chain issues have stalled delivery of new Folsom police cruisers, but PD will get 2025 models for the same 2022 price, authorities said. The service delivery plan adopted by the Folsom City Council calls for replacing marked police cars at 75,000 miles. Folsom PD is currently deployed with 12 cars over that limit, police said. Five Folsom PD Ford Explorer "Interceptors" were ordered from Folsom Lake Ford in September 2022. However, the production was later postponed indefinitely, authorities said last week. Folsom Lake Ford contacted Folsom PD last February to explain the delay and offered them as 2025 models at the fixed price set in 2022, staff said. Since then, Ford recalled 85,000 PD Explorers last summer. The company said model years 2020-2022 equipped with the police interceptor package have a potential fire risk. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents, the affected squad cars have 3.3L hybrid or gas engines, like Folsom PD. The Folsom deal includes the understanding that manufacturing would begin this fall, Police Chief Richard Hillman said in his report to the City Council. The supply of vehicles is limited nationwide, disproportionately affecting SUVs, including police cruisers, PD said. Besides the recall, supply chain issues have plagued Ford for several years in the wake of the COVID outbreak in 2020. The price quoted for five Explorer Interceptor models with all the PD upgrades is $66,000 each, or $330,200 total, officials said. "The police department is fortunate that the Ford Motor Company has agreed to the price quoted in September 2022," the chief said. Hillman said SUVs have become an industry standard for law enforcement since their introduction in 2013. "Ford Explorers are proven to be incredibly durable and reliable for the heavy use demands typical of a police patrol vehicle," Chief Hillman said. The purchase of five Ford Explorer police vehicles will knock down the number of marked patrol squad cars over 75,000 miles to five. The new squad cars were anticipated and included in the approved fiscal year 2024-25 Folsom police budget. Sufficient funds are available in the general fund for the Explorers. The Folsom City Council approve the purchase under the non-controversial consent agenda. Once the new vehicles go into service, five high-mileage cruisers will be disposed of following regular city surplus policy, staff said.