Rahm and McRahm made an appearance at City Hall. Guns were talked about and a bunch of unconstitutional ideas were floated around. But then the pair started talking about the new fleet of vehicles. The new Ford Explorers built right here at the Torrence Avenue plant:
- The mayor and superintendent were showing off the first part of their new fleet of police cars: 4-wheel drive Ford Explorer SUVs and Interceptor sedans manufactured at Ford’s rejuvenated Torrence Avenue plant.
Tony Reinhardt, Ford Motor Company’s regional director of government and community relations, said, “Mayor Emanuel was very involved in expressing his desire for these to be built right here in Chicago, and the good news is that’s where they’re built.”
They sure are pretty. But guess what one of our contacts related from the 51st Street garage?
- SCC, you're going love this one.....
The garage took delivery of a bunch of Explorers a while ago and started to install a bunch of Chicago specific features. Computer mounts, rifle racks, etc. Guess what doesn't work? The computer mounts for starters. Seems that Ford supplied some sort of adapter to plug all the computers into - PDT, ticket writer, camera, GPS. CPD technicians cut the adapters off and rewired it so the mounts don't work.
And the rifle racks? The garage had to actually cut a rifle out of the rack because once it was locked in place, you couldn't access the rifle. The deputy chief flipped out at this discovery seeing as how he had specifically discounted the use of these racks, but Fleet installed them anyway.
So don't get used to those new SUVs yet, they're all going back to the shop for repairs. Wonder if this voids any warranties?
The City That Works Can't Get Anything Correct.