November 16, 2022

Mr. Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General

Mr. Douglas Tulino, Deputy Postmaster General
The Hon. Roman Martinez IV, Chairman
The Hon. Anton G. Hajjar, Vice Chairman
The Hon. Robert M. Duncan, Member
The Hon. Amber D. McReynolds, Member
The Hon. Derek Kan, Member
The Hon. Donald L. Moak, Member
The Hon. Ronald A. Stroman, Member
The Hon. Daniel Tangherlini, Member
The Hon. William D. Zollars, Member
United States Postal Service Board of Governors
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW,
Washington, DC 20260

Dear Postmaster General DeJoy and Members of the Board of Governors:

On October 14th, I wrote to Mr. DeJoy and Ms. Whitcomb Hull asking the United States Postal
Service (USPS) to reinstate the patrolling duties of Postal Police Officers (PPOs) in the face of
increasingly widespread, costly, and dangerous armed postal robberies and mail theft.
I am attaching the letter below, which details both the state of the issue in Ohio and the need to
address this problem as quickly as possible. Postal robberies are costing thousands of Ohioans
millions in stolen checks and goods, putting the lives of our mail carriers at risk, and needlessly
straining local police departments.
In my letter, I asked for a response in 30 days. It has now been more than 30 days since I sent my
letter and I have yet to receive a response or any outreach from the USPS. It is imperative that
this matter be addressed as promptly as possible.

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown
United States Senator
Cc:
Inspector General, Tammy Whitcomb Hull
Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, Senator Gary
Peters
Ranking Members of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee,
Senator Rob Portman
 October 14, 2022

Mr. Louis DeJoy, Ms. Tammy Whitcomb Hull

Postmaster General and CEO Inspector General
United States Postal Service United States Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW 475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20260 Washington, DC 20260

Dear Postmaster General DeJoy and Inspector General Whitcomb Hull:

Recent reporting indicates a surge in postal robberies throughout Ohio.1 Sadly, I fear that these
robberies are enabled by the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) misguided decision to halt
the practice of having Postal Police Officers (PPO) – members of the nation’s first and oldest
federal law enforcement agency – patrolling along mail carrier routes and around USPS
collection boxes. This decision is making mail carriers and the communities they serve less safe,
and must be reversed.

Over the past year, USPS mail carriers across Ohio have been the victims of brazen armed
robberies in Norwood,2 College Hill,3 Covington, 4 Madeira,5 Cincinnati, 6 Columbus,7
Cleveland,8 Groveport,9 Beachwood,10 Trotwood,11 and Dayton.12 This appears to be an
organized criminal effort,13 where mail carriers are targeted for their “universal” arrow keys that
can open multiple USPS collection boxes. The contents of the mailboxes are stolen and later sold
online – costing Ohio residents millions.14,15 According to an internal USPS memo, there has
been a 400 percent increase in postal robberies since 2019.16

It is my understanding that the USPS’s Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) reinterpreted the
PPO’s jurisdiction over “postal property” and as a result restricted the presence of PPOs to postal
facilities while prohibiting them from patrolling mail carrier routes.17 Prior to this directive,
PPOs routinely escorted mail carriers in locations with higher risk of postal robberies. This new
directive is akin to saying that PPOs – a federal uniformed police force – are not meant to protect
mail carriers and the integrity of mail delivery, only federal USPS buildings.18 This is contrary to
the Service’s account of its own history which notes the role played in protecting mail carriers
and routes. Specifically, USPIS’s history details how the service “supervised the transportation
and delivery of mail to union troops.”19 In fact, so clear was the duty to protect the delivery of
mail, that in 1954, “Post Office Inspectors” were renamed “Postal Inspectors,” to “reflect the
relationship to all phases of postal services and the U.S. Mail, instead of only to post offices.”20
Similarly, after the Postal Police Officer security force was created in 1970, they were named
officially “Postal” not “Post Office” Police Officers in 1981 since they were “responsible for
protecting people and property.” 21

Last December, the National Association of Postal Supervisors called on USPS to restore PPO
field operations, given the staggering one-year increase of over 7,000 reported violent crimes
against postal employees.22 As others have noted, the higher incidence of postal robberies and
mailbox theft has hindered the delivery of benefits and supplies American families rely on.
When Americans cannot get their medication, merchandise, Social Security checks, and notes
from loved ones, the USPS must act.

Recent research suggests that the August 25, 2020, policy change coincides with the rise in mail
theft cybercrime cases.23 There has been a documented increase in the online market for stolen
checks, from more than 100 checks stolen nationwide in one week in 2020 to 2,000 per week in
2022.24 In January 2022, more than 500 checks were stolen from Ohioans and posted for sale
online. This makes Ohio the nation’s fourth largest hot spot for postal robbery cybercrime, after
Texas, Florida, and New York.25

At the time of the 2020 decision to bench federal PPOs, the Wall Street Journal noted it was “too
early to know if the order will affect mail crimes.”26 Now, more than two years later, we know
that the order has led to more mail crimes.

Postal robberies and mail theft are federal crimes, and federal police officers should patrol postal
carrier routes. That responsibility should not be pushed onto overwhelmed local law enforcement
personnel. It is imperative that the USPS reverse its wrongheaded decision and immediately
restore the patrolling functions of the Postal Police Officers.

Please provide my office a response on this matter within 30 days.

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown
United States Senator
Cc:
Chief Postal Inspector, Gary R. Barksdale
1
McGee, Jatara. October 4, 2022. “Recent armed robberies of mail carriers highlight widespread concerns with
mail theft.” WLWT5. Retrieved: https://www.wlwt.com/article/recent-armed-robberies-of-cincinnati-mail-carriers-
highlight-widespread-concerns-with-mail-theft/41506335
2
Jones, Luke. January 24, 2022. “Mail carrier robbed at gunpoint while on the job in Norwood.” Mail carrier
robbed at gunpoint while on the job in Norwood | WKRC (local12.com)
3
Vitali, Gianna. July 19, 2022. Police search for two teens who reportedly robbed mail carrier at gunpoint
(wlwt.com)
4
McGee, Jatara. August 24, 2022. Updated October 4, 2022. “Cincinnati-area residents out millions as mail theft
surges; local checks being sold online.” WLWT5. Retrieved: https://www.wlwt.com/article/cincinnati-area-
residents-out-millions-as-usps-mail-theft-surges/40983602
5
Nelson, Camri. March 12, 2022. “Checks not clearing? Police say it could be mail theft.” Spectrum News 1.
Retrieved: https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/crime/2022/03/10/mail-theft-becomes-issue-across-the-
state-
6
McGee, Jatara. October 4, 2022. “Recent armed robberies of mail carriers highlight widespread concerns with
mail theft.” WLWT5. Retrieved: https://www.wlwt.com/article/recent-armed-robberies-of-cincinnati-mail-carriers-
highlight-widespread-concerns-with-mail-theft/41506335
7
Rantala, Lisa. March 1, 2022. “Experts predict mail theft will get worse as feds audit 4 Columbus area USPS
facilities.” WSYX Columbus. Retrieved: https://myfox28columbus.com/news/local/experts-predict-mail-theft-
federal-audit-columbus-area-us-postal-service-facilities-3-1-2022
8
Olsen, Braedon. July 1, 2022. “Federal prosecutors charge postal carrier and 10 others in a series of Northeast
Ohio mailbox thefts.” WKSU. Retrieved: https://www.wksu.org/government-politics/2022-07-01/federal-
prosecutors-charge-postal-carrier-and-10-others-in-a-series-of-northeast-ohio-mailbox-thefts
9
Halperin, Eric. August 30, 2022. “Ohio sees mailbox thefts as a growing concern.” WCMH. Retrieved:
https://www.wtrf.com/ohio/ohio-sees-mailbox-thefts-as-a-growing-concern/
10
Mitchell, Olivia. May 2, 2022. “Beachwood police, U.S. Postal Service investigate reports of stolen mail.” The
Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved: https://www.cleveland.com/news/2022/05/beachwood-police-us-postal-
service-investigate-reports-of-stolen-mail.html
11
WHIO Staff. September 22, 2022. “2 mail carriers robbed minutes apart in Dayton, Trotwood; Postal Service joins
police investigation” WHIO. Retrieved: https://www.whio.com/news/local/deputies-investigating-multiple-
reports-armed-robberies-involving-postal-workers/ANIZWMRI6BAFVGEF3XNVWWNIPI/
12
Mathis, Carlos. September 22, 2022. “2 Postal Carriers robbed at gunpoint in Montgomery County.” 2 postal
carriers robbed at gunpoint in Montgomery County (wdtn.com)
13
McGee, Jatara. August 24, 2022. Updated October 4, 2022. “Cincinnati-area residents out millions as mail theft
surges; local checks being sold online.” WLWT5. Retrieved: https://www.wlwt.com/article/cincinnati-area-
residents-out-millions-as-usps-mail-theft-surges/40983602
14
Ferrise, Adam. June 30, 2022. “Cleveland-area mail carrier sold master blue box key to group that stole $1.5
million in fake-check scheme, feds say.” The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved:
https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2022/06/cleveland-area-mail-carrier-sold-master-blue-box-key-to-group-that-
stole-15-million-in-fake-check-scheme-feds-say.html
15
McGee, Jatara. August 24, 2022. Updated October 4, 2022. “Cincinnati-area residents out millions as mail theft
surges; local checks being sold online.” WLWT5. Retrieved: https://www.wlwt.com/article/cincinnati-area-
residents-out-millions-as-usps-mail-theft-surges/40983602
16
Gillum, Jack. March 28, 2022. “Signed, Sealed, Snatched.” Bloomberg News. Retrieved:
https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2022-mail-thieves-checks-scam/
17
National Association of Postal Supervisors. December 16, 2021. “NAPS Urges Postal Service to Restore Postal
Police Patrols to Protect Carriers, Mail.” Retrieved: https://naps.org/Post/NAPS-Urges-Postal-Service-to-Restore-
Postal-Police-Patrols-to-Protect-Carriers-Mail
18
Smith, Rebecca. October 16, 2020. “U.S. Postal Service Benches Its Police Officers Before Election.” Wall Street
Journal. Retrieved: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-postal-service-benches-its-police-officers-before-election-
11602862096
19
History of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. https://www.uspis.gov/about/history-of-uspis;
https://www.uspis.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/History-of-U.S.-Postal-Inspection-Service.txt
20
Id.
21
Id.
22
Butts, Ivan D. December 3, 2021. “Letter from the National Association of Postal Supervisors National President
to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.” Retrieved:
https://naps.org/files/galleries/PMG%20Request%20Letter%20to%20Restore%20PPO%20Street%20Duties%20SIG
NED.pdf
23
Keith, Tamara, Elena Burnett, Courtney Dorning. February 4, 2022. “An old-fashioned crime is on the rise: bank
check theft.” NPR. Retrieved: https://www.npr.org/2022/02/04/1078358154/an-old-fashioned-crime-is-on-the-
rise-bank-check-theft
24
Halperin, Eric. August 30, 2022. “Ohio sees mailbox thefts as a growing concern.” WCMH. Retrieved:
https://www.wtrf.com/ohio/ohio-sees-mailbox-thefts-as-a-growing-concern/
25
Gillum, Jack. March 28, 2022. “Signed, Sealed, Snatched.” Bloomberg News. Retrieved:
https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2022-mail-thieves-checks-scam/
26
Smith, Rebecca. October 16, 2020. “U.S. Postal Service Benches Its Police Officers Before Election.” Wall Street
Journal. Retrieved: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-postal-service-benches-its-police-officers-before-election-
11602862096