May 29, 2003

Dr. Jeffrey W. Runge

National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator

Department of Transportation

400 7th Street, S.W.

Washington, D. C.Ý 20590

VIA FAX (202) 366-2106

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Re:ÝÝÝÝÝ Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors

Dear Dr. Runge:

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ On behalf of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Dallas, Texas, I would urge NHTSA to reconsider its October 3, 2002 decision regarding the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor vehicles.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Since NHTSA closed its investigation on October 3rd, Officer Patrick Metzler died in Dallas, Texas; Trooper Robert Ambrose died in Yonkers, New York; and Trooper Michael Newton recently died in Lafayette County, Missouri.Ý In addition, Officers Hector Bermudez and Mark Athan escaped a vehicle fire in Torrance, California; Officer Dan Traver escaped a vehicle fire in Washington, D. C.; and Officer Harry Blast escaped a vehicle fire in Dallas, Texas.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ In other incidents, the fuel tank of a vehicle driven by Officer J. Fender in Hillsboro County, Florida, was punctured without the occurrence of fire, as was the tank of a vehicle driver by DPS Trooper Rebecca Gutierrez near Beeville, Texas.Ý Either of these officers could have died had a spark ignited the spilled gasoline.Ý

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Officer Newtonís vehicle was a 2003 year model vehicle with only 4,000 miles on it.Ý The vehicles driven by Officers Blast, Traver, Gutierrez and Fender had all been retrofitted with Fordís optional upgrade kit, but nevertheless suffered punctured fuel tanks.Ý

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ We in Dallas have suffered the tragic death of one police officer.Ý Just two weeks ago, another of our vehicles fully equipped with the retrofit kit burst into flames following a rear impact.Ý Only good fortune protected the officer who happened to be out of the vehicle at the time, as had happened with the officers in Washington, D.C.ÝÝÝ

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ We urge NHTSA to take effective action to prevent further officer deaths and injuries.Ý Everyone involved in this subject is aware that police vehicles are subject to unique demands, including an increased exposure to high speed rear impact collisions.Ý The tragic toll of deaths indicates that the vehicles are not fit for their special usage, and present a continuing danger to the police community which is dependant on them.

Sincerely,

Madeleine B. Johnson

City Attorney

c:ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ William Clay Ford, Jr., Chief Executive Officer , Ford Motor Company