Postal employee safety and the sanctity of U.S. mail have been undermined. In fall 2020, the Postal Service initiated a misguided policy change that restricted the authority of its uniformed law enforcement personnel to postal-owned or leased property. This action compromised the safety of postal personnel and the security of the U.S. mail.
Prior to the change, postal police officers were empowered to conduct patrols in high postal-crime areas, protect postal property and investigate postal crime — on postal property and offsite. Over the past three years, assaults against postal employees delivering mail have increased by 231%, and mail theft has increased by an alarming 161% over a 12-month period (2021-2022). This acceleration in postal-related crime correlates with the USPS decision to diminish postal police law enforcement authority. Crime data indicates the postal police presence deters postal crime, including assaults against postal employees.
In addition, September 2023, the USPS Inspector General issued an audit report highlighting the Postal Service’s disappointing response to mail theft, including its staffing deficiencies and the absence of a national assessment of personnel deployment to combat postal crime.
Please urge your Senator to co-sponsor S. 3356, legislation to clarify and restore the jurisdiction of Postal Police beyond the perimeter of a postal facility, in order to protect postal personnel, USPS assets and U.S. mail
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