United States Postal Service workers are again delivering mail in a southern California neighborhood after services were suspended following attacks on postal carriers.
The USPS said in a statement that conditions on the route in Santa Monica, California, will be “reviewed continuously” to make sure employees are safe while delivering mail. The organization has also been in talks with the Santa Monica Police Department.
Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment but said in a facebook post Tuesday that USPS employees were back to deliver mail on the block.
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The incidents happened in January, February and April. Natashi Garvins, a postal service spokesperson, said three mail carriers were attacked altogether.
It is a federal crime to assault a postal worker.
According to the Facebook post from the police, on Jan. 19, someone on the street assaulted a mail carrier with a broomstick. The USPS employee suffered a minor injury to his arm but did not need medical attention.
Police said they took a report and reached out to the victim. A month after the attack, the victim decided not to press charges.
“Besides this particular incident, no additional crime reports involving the US Post Office have been made to SMPD,” police said in the Facebook post.
They said they spoke to an inspector in the US Postal Inspection Service about the suspect possibly attacking other mail carriers. The inspector didn’t recall any additional reports but said USPS is trying to find other postal workers who may have been attacked.
A notice was posted on mailboxes on April 7, after the third and most recent incident, letting residents know service was suspended, USPS said.
“This is unfortunate, but please be advised that the Post Service does not enter into the decision to suspend service lightly,” the letter read.
Police said they first found out about the letter when it was posted on Twitter over the weekend.
The USPS said that in 2020, the Postal Inspection Service responded to more than 7,000 reports of violent crimes against postal employees, including threats, assaults and homicides. More than 5,800 employees were attacked by dogs in 2020.
Attacks on USPS workers: Over 5,800 letter carriers were attacked by dogs in 2020, US Postal Service says
During an event in October 2021, Chief Postal Inspector Gary R. Barksdale said the Inspection Service had investigated four shooting incidents that month targeting employees – four died and another was seriously hurt.
“Although protecting the mail and valuable postal assets is every employee’s concern, you are your most important delivery,” Barksdale said at the time. “You may know your route inside and out, but don’t ever take your safety for granted. If you feel you’re in danger, focus first and foremost on your own personal safety.”
www.usatoday.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism