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Postal Inspection Service

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The Life and Times of the
United States Postal Inspection Service
The United States Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”) is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and serves to investigate and apprehend those who attack the country’s postal system and misuse its services to defraud, endanger, or threaten others. As sworn federal law enforcement officers, U.S. Postal Inspectors carry firearms and have the authority to apprehend and arrest suspects, execute search warrants and serve federal subpoenas. The goal of the USPIS is to “ensure confidence in the U.S. Mail” by ensuring that individuals and businesses can transmit funds, information, and correspondence safely and timely (Mission Statement, n.d.).
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Postal Service and its employees, infrastructure, and customers; enforce the laws that defend the nation’s mail system from illegal or dangerous use; and ensure public trust in the mail” (Mission Statement, n.d.). In order to carry out its duties and responsibilities, the USPIS maintains a force of uniformed police officers who performs many protective functions, among those, are to escort high-value mail shipments and provide perimeter security to critical postal facilities (Mission Statement, n.d.).
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The USPIS is currently staffed by over 1.400 Postal Inspectors who have authority to investigate any matter involving the security and integrity of the U.S. Postal Service (Chief Postal Inspector, n.d). Inspectors often work with other agencies to investigate and prosecute those who commit crimes against the USPIS including local law enforcement. In fact, postal employees are instructed to first notify local law enforcement when a postal crime has occurred since the local police can respond more quickly (A Law Enforcement Guide to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, 2006). In turn, Postal Inspectors help local police educate the public regarding fraudulent mail scams, mail stolen from home mailboxes, and mailbox vandalism (A Law Enforcement

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