Government Fleet Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Dallas Police Dept. Pushes to End Ford Crown Victoria Boycott

DALLAS – After the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Dallas' former city attorney, Dallas police officials are pushing to end a two-year boycott of Ford Crown Victoria cruisers, according to the Dallas Morning News.

by Staff
April 29, 2005
2 min to read


DALLAS – After the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Dallas' former city attorney, Dallas police officials are pushing to end a two-year boycott of Ford Crown Victoria cruisers, according to the Dallas Morning News. The city hasn't bought any Crown Victorias since May 2003 when former City Attorney Madeleine Johnson announced the boycott. She maintained that the cars were unsafe after the death of an officer, whose car exploded after being struck from the rear a year before. With the departure of Johnson and Ford's recent safety improvements to the cruisers, police officials are looking to purchase the vehicles again. Interim City Attorney Tom Perkins said he plans to update the city council in a closed session on the Crown Victoria situation. Lt. Sally Lannom, treasurer of the Dallas Police Executive Lodge, said she wants to ensure the safety of the vehicle but that the city would be hard-pressed to find a more suitable police car. Senior Cpl. Glenn White, president of the Dallas Police Association, which represents more than 85 percent of the department's officers, said he did not have confidence that the Crown Victorias are safe for officers. At least 18 officers nationwide have died due to fuel tank fires sparked by rear-end crashes since police began using the Ford model. Brian Geraghty, Ford's director of design analysis, said the new fire-suppression system will become available this summer. Until the city lifts the boycott, it will continue to buy other police models to update the marked patrol fleet. The city is putting six new Chevrolet Impalas into service.

Topics:Operations

More Operations

City of Madison, Wisconsin seal overlaid on an image of electric vehicles parked and charging in a row.
Operationsby News/Media ReleaseApril 23, 2026

Rachel Darken Named Fleet Service Superintendent

Madison names Rachel Darken as fleet service superintendent, citing her leadership in fleet optimization, electrification efforts, and workforce development initiatives.

Read More →
Ken Lett in front of the city fleet building.
Operationsby Nichole OsinskiApril 23, 2026

Lynchburg Names Ken Lett Director of Fleet Services

Veteran public sector fleet leader Ken Lett brings more than 20 years of experience in strategic planning, financial oversight, and technology-driven operations to his new role leading the City of Lynchburg’s fleet program.

Read More →
a government fleet graphic showing the 2026 fleet manager of the year finalists.
OperationsApril 21, 2026

Meet the 2026 Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year Finalists

Recognizing excellence in public fleet leadership is no small task. Learn more about this year’s three outstanding finalists, and join us at GFX in Long Beach to see who takes home the honor.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic showing Sewell Family of Companies logo and Oklahoma state seal over a background of parked vehicles, representing a statewide fleet contract agreement.
Operationsby News/Media ReleaseApril 14, 2026

Oklahoma Statewide Fleet Vehicle Contract Multi-Year Agreement to Supply Fleet Vehicles to State Agencies and Municipalities

The Sewell Family of Companies has been awarded a statewide contract to supply fleet vehicles and services to government agencies across Oklahoma through 2032.

Read More →
A collage with voting, the government fleet logo and the words cheat sheet.
OperationsApril 10, 2026

Costs, AI, EVs, and Sales in Government Fleet | GovCast Shorts

On the go and want a snapshot of our top industry news? Check out Government Fleet's new video short of what's been happening.

Read More →
A man holding a phone in a truck.
Operationsby Rachael PlantApril 10, 2026

A Practical Approach to Fleet Cost Analysis in Government Operations 

Government fleets face a distinct set of challenges that make cost analysis both more difficult and more critical.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
 a wall with the words fleet hall of fame
OperationsApril 3, 2026

Closed: Vote Now for the Public Fleet Hall of Fame

Fleet professionals can now vote for the 2026 inductees of the Public Fleet Hall of Fame. Anyone affiliated with the public fleet industry, including fleet professionals, fleet technicians, or other staff members, and suppliers, can vote.

Read More →
executive editor with images of community and networking.
OperationsApril 1, 2026

Finding Your People | The Fleet Breakroom

Why the fleet community matters, how it helps with education and support, and why asking questions can save you more trouble than you think.

Read More →
the dispatch text with images of vehicles, women in fleet, and ev charging.
OperationsMarch 30, 2026

Women in Fleet, Salary Trends, AI, and More| The March Dispatch

In this monthly lookback, we’re talking about Women’s History Month coverage, the latest Government Fleet salary data, how fleet leaders are dealing with nonstop change, and more.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
freightliner whitepaper
SponsoredMarch 26, 2026

Safety by Design: Power and Protection in the Freightliner 114SD Plus

Safety and productivity go hand-in-hand on today’s vocational jobsites. The Freightliner 114SD Plus combines advanced driver-assist technologies with proven reliability to keep crews moving constantly from start to finish. Learn how safety by design can protect your team, reduce risk, and maximize uptime.

Read More →