Postal police would return to the street to help stamp out mail carrier assaults under new bill in Congress

For years, postal police patrolled the streets alongside letter carriers, protecting them and making arrests as any federal officer would.

But they have had their hands tied since 2020, when Postmaster Louis DeJoy issued a directive limiting postal police to protecting U.S Postal Service property.

The postal police union sued to prevent DeJoy from restricting the officers as crimes against letter carriers skyrocketed. But the lawsuit was unsuccessful.

Lawmakers are introducing a new bill in Washington to again ensure postal police have the authority to protect letter carriers on the streets.

The Postal Police Reform Act will be introduced to the U.S. Senate on Wednesday by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.