Protect, Preserve and Prosecute

By Edward P. Fletcher, President

Oh, how the times have changed in the Postal Service for us Letter Carriers. Enough is Enough! I get sick to my stomach every time I hear that there has been another armed robbery or crime is committed against our brothers and sisters, and the members of the communities we serve.

Our Meeting with the USPIS

A few weeks ago, Branch 214 President Karen Eshabarr and I were invited to meet with the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and members of the Task Force on Arm Robberies and Assaults. We met in the “War Room,” which had ongoing investigations with photos of suspects plastered all over the walls. We were told that the City of Oakland and San Francisco had more armed robberies/assaults than all the other cities in the districts they cover.

In 2023, there have been over 77 armed robberies and assaults. Since February 13, 2023, I have personally tracked 25 armed robberies/assaults taking place as of August 8, 2023. The Lead Inspector stated, “We can arrest and prosecute are way out of these crimes.” “We must devalue the keys and add more security.”

The USPS has a new pilot program where the keys and electronic codes are used together, which can be instantly changed. On a positive note, we were informed three suspects pleaded guilty for robberies in Oakland, Martinez and San Francisco. The criminal who robbed a letter carrier in 2021 in the City of Oakland got 6 years and 5 months in prison. The other two criminals are awaiting sentencing. We need more prosecutions.

Fund all Law Enforcement, not defund!

In speaking with the Postal Inspection Service, local law enforcement representatives and our own National Leaders, it is no secret that the Postal Service as a whole and Law Enforcement agencies are all chronically understaffed. In fact, just before sitting down to write this article, I watched the news on Channel 2. They reported that the Vallejo Police department had 50 Officer vacancies and only 34 Police Officers on staff. That is unbelievable! They also held a meeting to inform the Vallejo community that the Police will not be responding to burglar alarms. Really!

We must “Fund Law Enforcement,” including local and federal prosecutors at all levels. By providing more funds to all Law Enforcement, it will enable them to better protect us, preserve our safety and prosecute these cowardly criminals who are targeting our letter carriers.

Our National Union

As your President, one of my many duties is getting information from, and communicating with our National Business Agent and our National Officers. I have been tasked with tracking and reporting these robberies/assaults against our brothers and sisters in Branch 1111. I have also submitted the names of several brave Branch members who were robbed and are willing to testify in national arbitration to aid the Union’s efforts to get more resources for the Postal Police and Inspection Service.

On August 8, 2023, I spoke with one of our National Officers who informed me of the following: the NALC wants more prosecutions; they meet with the USPS weekly on crime issues; the USPS has spent money out of their own pockets to hire 12 prosecutors, who agreed to take 80% of the cases on Postal crime; there are crime bills currently in congress and many of our representatives will support these bills, but they don’t go far enough; they met with the Chief Postal Inspector who confirmed that USPIS is understaffed; for cases to be prosecuted at the federal level, the stolen property must be valued at least $ 500.

Postal Crime Epidemic

The USPS and all Law Enforcement agencies must pull out all the stops! No excuses. All Letter Carriers should write to their local congressman as their constituents and ask him/her to push hard to pass bills that will protect letter carriers, enhance penalties and prosecute the criminals.