Suffolk Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) has reintroduced the Postal Police Reform Act, a bill to reverse a 2020 directive from the Chief Postal Inspector restricting Postal Police Officers to physical postal locations and preventing officers from fully executing their duty to ensure public safety within the nation's mail system. Co-leading this legislation with Rep. Garbarino are Representatives Bill Pascrell (D-NJ-09), Ken Calvert (R-CA-41), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At Large).

"We must do more to combat rising mail crime, and that starts by getting our Postal Police back on the street where they can more effectively do their jobs. The longer this senseless directive stays in place, the longer mail theft and violence against mail carriers continues to escalate," said Rep. Garbarino. "Postal Police Officers serve a critical public safety role, but they can only do so much while shackled to their desks. This bill will enhance public safety by removing current restrictions confining Postal Police to USPS property and empowering these officers with the freedom they need to address mail crime."

"While Congress has made important progress in righting the direction of America’s Post Office we still have a ways to go – particularly in protecting postal employees," said Rep. Pascrell. "Now, Postal Police Officers are being blocked from protecting postal employees and property. This has led to a spike in theft of property and even assaults against our nation’s letter carriers. This is an absolute disgrace. Our commonsense, bipartisan legislation would let Postal Police do their jobs without interference or violence. I thank Congressman Garbarino for his leadership in securing our Postal Service."

"Restrictions imposed upon Postal Police Officers limit them in carrying out their important public safety role. The bipartisan Postal Police Reform Act will reverse earlier misguided decisions and give officers the ability to enhance the safety of our mail system. Congress needs to take action to reduce property thefts and physical threats to our letter carriers," said Rep. Calvert. 

"Mail theft, particularly of checks, has been a significant problem in D.C. and throughout the country," Rep. Norton said. "One of the most effective ways we can protect mail, postal property, and postal employees is to give U.S. Postal Police Officers (PPOs) the authority to do their jobs whether or not they're on postal property. Our bill would recognize the authority of PPOs to protect mail, postal property, and postal employees wherever they are located."

Reps. Garbarino and Pascrell first introduced the Postal Police Reform Act during the 117th Congress. The text of the bill can be found here.

Original source can be found here.