Rockville, MD – Today, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) recognized U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Inspector Charles Wickersham as a “Local Hero” for his diligent efforts to ensure the integrity of the Postal Service throughout Maryland’s Eighth District. Inspector Wickersham’s work contributed to the arrest and indictment of four accused postal thieves in the national capital region this July.
“Constituents have shared alarming stories of postal problems ranging from misdeliveries to stolen checks worth thousands of dollars, and I have been working closely with USPIS to address these problems and crimes,” said Rep. Raskin. “I’m thankful we have a steadfast advocate in Inspector Wickersham and his team. I’m profoundly grateful for his partnership in strengthening the Postal Service for our community.”
To watch the Local Hero segment with Inspector Wickersham, please visit Rep. Raskin’s YouTube channel, or visit his other social media accounts.
Based on a review conducted by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service observed a 161% increase in mail theft complaints from March 2020 through February 2021, compared to the same period in the previous year. Rep. Raskin has worked closely with Inspector Wickersham to understand and respond to escalating mail thefts and concerns within the Eighth District. Recently, Rep. Raskin invited Inspector Wickersham to join him at a Silver Spring Civic Association meeting, where Inspector Wickersham provided an overview of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and their efforts to address these issues.
Rep. Raskin alerted the Department of Justice to a pattern of mail thefts in the Eighth District, and in July, four individuals allegedly responsible for postal thefts were indicted by federal prosecutors. More information on the indictments is available at the Department of Justice website.
As a member of the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Raskin continually advocates for secure, reliable mail service for the Eighth District and the country, most recently sounding the alarm on these local mail thefts and misdeliveries to senior USPS officials at a Government Operations Subcommittee hearing on mail delivery issues in Maryland. A video of some of those remarks is available here.