Wis. congresswoman to postmaster general: 'Take all necessary steps to protect postal employees'

Wisconsin Rep. Gwen Moore sent a letter to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, calling for additional efforts to protect postal service workers.

The letter comes amid increasing attacks against letter carriers in Milwaukee. On Friday, 12 News reported on eight men that had been arrested and charged in a mail theft ring that included armed robberies of mail carriers.

Moore cited WISN 12 News' reporting in her letter.

“I urge you to take all necessary steps to protect postal employees, who work tirelessly to serve our communities," Moore wrote. "In this year alone, Milwaukee police have reported at least five armed robberies of letter carriers to obtain master arrow keys. As you know, Aundre Cross, a Postal Service letter carrier was shot and killed while delivering mail last December 2022. With these increasing attacks, it is critical that the Postal Service proactively work and use all available resources and tools to better protect its employees, working closely with other federal, state, and local officials."

Moore goes on to ask about the progress for implementing improved locking mechanisms and other security improvements for collection boxes such as electronic device coupling that would work in conjunction with the master arrow keys.

"These changes have the potential to reduce incentives to steal arrow keys and deter future robberies and crimes against postal employees," Moore said.

Moore also asked DeJoy for information on the number of cases involving assault or robberies of postal workers that have been referred to the Department of Justice or state or local authorities for prosecution and whether or not the postmaster has asked local law enforcement, in Milwaukee and other affected communities, for increased security along targeted routes.

She concludes with, "Lastly, in the Milwaukee area, I urge you to work with partners to create a dedicated Task Force of law enforcement personnel at the federal, state, and local levels to help identify, investigate, disrupt and prosecute those involved in schemes to attack our postal employees in order to steal mail."