Talk:United States Postal Inspection Service

NPOV

Revised "With responsibility over 700,000 Postal Service employees and billions of pieces of mail transported through air, land, rail and sea world wide a year, and being that the mail is a major part of personal and business communications in the U.S., the USPIS mission is not a small one."

The last two clauses are not neutral and not necessary. Springreturning 07:20, 15 July 2007 (UTC)

More NPOV issues. With respect to jurisdiction and mission statement, the article makes it painfully clear that employees come first and customers come last. Guns are banned, agents have to have special authority to carry firearms "on duty", and crimes alleged to have been committed by federal employees are not within the jurisdiction of USPIS // APWU to investigate. They put their time in, they're collecting their wages, and they they have special rights and privileges as federal employees, including the right to refuse service to anyone, deny delivery or confiscate mail for any reason. justinacolmena (talk) 00:46, 29 February 2020 (UTC)

Forgot Zip Code for the Postal inspections address

Forgot Zip Code for the Postal inspec tions address —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.141.174.5 (talk) 19:00, 11 November 2009 (UTC)

WikiProject class rating

This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as start, and the rating on other projects was brought up to start class. BetacommandBot 16:15, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

Oldest Federal Law Enforcement?

The article claims "The Postal Inspection Service is the oldest federal law enforcement agency in the United States." However, the wikipedia article on the United States Marshal Service also claims "The U.S. Marshals Service is the oldest law enforcement agency of the federal government in the United States". Which is correct? One of these articles needs to be changed. 91.105.218.235 (talk) 11:43, 23 March 2011 (UTC)

This is covered in detail in an older talk section—and a detailed footnote—in the United States Marshals Service article—the postal service had individual agents (called Surveyors) first, but those surveyors did not become Special Agents until 1801, and they were not an "agency" until the formation of the United States Postal Inspection Service in 1830.

The United States Marshals were formed in 1789, and hence is considered the "oldest agency" even though the Postal Service has older roots.

I tried to clarify it further here with a little rewording of history for the Postal Inspection Service.

—MJBurrage^(T•C) 17:12, 23 March 2011 (UTC)

Armature

What for a kind of weapons are in use with the United States Postal Inspection Service? --Exodianecross (talk) 13:06, 15 July 2014 (UTC)

mostly junk mail but the occasional irregular package is used also

Edit Request

I’m a historian contracted with the US Postal Inspection Service and I’d like to request some major additions to the Wikipedia article. Other federal law enforcement agencies such as the US Marshals Service and the FBI have detailed history sections, lists of notable historical figures who have served or led the organization, duties and responsibilities, popular culture references and organizational information. These help provide a better understanding of the historical and cultural role these organizations have played, and my boss would like this article to be improved in the same way.

To begin, I would like to request expanding the history section to include sub headings for the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st century, highlighting USPIS’s involvement in events like the defense of Washington, DC during the War of 1812, securing the mail during the Civil War and reestablishing the Post Office in the South following the end of the war, mapping rural routes to deliver mail to Americans living in more remote areas, taking down the Black Hand, the agency's status as the first law enforcement agency to use the Thompson submachine gun, the arrest of Charles Ponzi, moving gold to the US Bullion Depository, securing military mail during the Spanish American War and World War I, establishing the modern military mail system during World War II, capturing the Unabomber, the 2001 Anthrax Attacks, Operation Spade which brought down Azoz Films, and more recent events such as the arrest of Steve Bannon and securing mail in votes for the 2020 Presidential Election.

Some other notable historical events of public interest are the organization’s involvement in securing mail from the Hindenburg Disaster, assisting the investigation into the Lindberg Kidnapping and the Kennedy assassination, delivering the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian and securing mail after incidents like 9/11 and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina.

Additionally, I would like to request a section be added listing notable Inspectors, such as: William Goddard (first postal surveyor), Noah Webster, David B. Parker, John Clum, Alan Pinkerton, Anthony Comstock, George B. Hamlet (first Black Chief Inspector), Elmer Irey (first IRS chief), Jesse M. Donaldson (first Postal Inspector promoted to Post Master General), and Robert Moon (credited as the inventor of the zip code).

I would be happy to assist in expanding these sections or providing unbiased source materials to support these edits, but was uncertain how involved I would be able to be as I am presently employed by the agency. Please let me know how to best assist in expanding this article.

Elmer Irey's Ghost (talk) 15:17, 15 December 2020 (UTC)

Hi @Elmer Irey's Ghost: thank you for using the request edit template. Please review Template:Request edit/Instructions for instructions on how to format requests. Specifically, we ask that editors propose the exact text they want to see in the article in the format of "Add X to section Y" or "Replace A with B". Also, we require editors to post sources so editors without a conflict of interest can verify the information. After the request is posted, the non-conflict of interest editor will evaluate the proposed text and add the text, add after modifying the text, or decline to add the information.

I have closed this edit request, but you can open a new request when you want to propose the specific text. I have also added your COI to the top of the page to help other editors understand your COI. Let post below if you have questions or concerns. Z1720 (talk) 16:22, 15 December 2020 (UTC)

Major Edit Request - History Section Update and Notable Inspectors addition

Add following subheadings and content to History section:

18th Century

The Postal Inspection Service has the oldest origins of any federal law enforcement agency in the United States. It traces its roots back to 1772[6] when colonial Postmaster General Benjamin Franklin first appointed a "surveyor" to regulate and audit the mails. Thus, the Service's origins—in part—predate the Declaration of Independence, and therefore the United States itself.

As Franklin was appointed Postmaster General under the Second Continental Congress, his system continued. One of Franklin's first acts as Postmaster General was to appoint William Goddard as the first Postal Surveyor of the newly founded American postal system, in charge of inspecting the integrity and security of postal routes, regulating post offices, and auditing their accounts. A letter from Franklin to Goddard, dated August 7, 1775, authorized a total of $170.00 for Goddard to carry out these duties,[7] and so August 7 is recognized as the "birthday" of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Postal surveyors established and protected lines of communication during the American Revolution.[8]

19th Century

In 1801, the title of "surveyor" was changed to special agent. The Postal Inspection Service was the first federal law enforcement agency to use the title special agent for its officers.

During the War of 1812, special agents spied on the British fleet and assisted the defense of Washington.[9]

In 1830, the special agents were organized into the Office of Instructions and Mail Depredations. During the American Civil War, special agents established and maintained military post offices and mail routes. After the war, they reestablished mail to the South and investigated a new wave of mail fraud in the post-war period.[10]

For some time, one of their primary duties was the enforcement of obscenity prohibitions under the Comstock Act, named after Postal Inspector Anthony Comstock. Congress changed the title “special agent” to inspector in 1880.

20th Century

In 1909, Postal Inspectors arrest 14 members of the Black Hand crime ring. During Prohibition, Postal Inspectors became the first law enforcement officials to carry Thompson submachine guns to discourage potential mail thieves.[11] Inspectors were instrumental in exposing Charles Ponzi as a con artist and swindler.[12]

Postal Inspectors protected valuable shipments, notably the transfer of gold to the U.S. Bullion Depository in Fort Knox, Kentucky in the 1930’s[13] and the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in 1958.[14]

During World War II, Postal Inspectors designed and organized the military mail system servicing U.S. troops serving abroad. This system was so successful, it became the basis for the modern military mail system.[15]

The first female Postal Inspectors joined the force in 1971, making the agency one of the first federal law enforcement agencies to hire female agents.[16]

The Child Protection Act passed in 1984 expanded the duties of Inspectors to include investigating distributors and producers of child pornography.[17] In 1989, Inspectors arrested televangelist Jim Baker for mail fraud.[18]

In 1991, the Inspection Service breaks up an international art fraud ring selling fakes of paintings by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and other prominent artists.[19]

Postal Inspectors joined a multi-agency task force to catch the Unabomber, who was arrested in 1996. Several Postal Inspectors were on site during the arrest and began interviewing him while other members of the task force searched his cabin.[20]

21st Century

In 2001, “Operation Avalanche”, a coordinated effort between Postal Inspectors and 30 other federally funded task forces, ends with the arrests of 100 individuals involved in the production and distribution of child pornography.[21]

After the 9/11 terrorists attacks, Postal Inspectors secured mail from the Church Street Station post office,[22] and aided in the identification of the terrorists responsible for the attacks. Postal Inspectors joined the investigation into the 2001 Anthrax attacks.[23]

Postal Inspectors arrested Allen Stanford in 2012 for masterminding a $7 billion Ponzi scheme.[24]

The Inspectors, the only television show funded by a government agency, first aired in 2015. The show ran for four seasons and won two Daytime Emmy Awards.[25]

In 2018, several bombs were mailed to prominent members of Congress, the media and entertainment industry. Postal Inspectors aided the apprehension of the bomber.[26]

In August of 2020, Postal Police officers arrested Steve Bannon and others for defrauding donors to their online crowdfunding campaign “We Build the Wall.”[27] Inspectors took steps to ensure election mail during the 2020 Presidential Election was secured after an unprecedented number of voters voted by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[28]

Citations:

• 8. https://about.usps.com/publications/pub162/welcome.htm
• 9. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015013392017, pg 65
• 10. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015013392017, pg 90
• 11. https://about.usps.com/publications/pub162/welcome.htm
• 12. https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/behind-the-badge-case-histories-scams-and-schemes/ponzi-scheme
• 13. https://mailomg.com/2017/09/06/five-famous-shipments-postal-inspectors-protected/
• 14. https://mailomg.com/2017/09/06/five-famous-shipments-postal-inspectors-protected/
• 15. https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/behind-the-badge-postal-inspection-service-duties-and-history-history/military-mail
• 16. https://about.usps.com/publications/pub162/welcome.htm
• 17. https://about.usps.com/publications/pub162/welcome.htm
• 18. https://about.usps.com/publications/pub162/welcome.htm
• 19. https://about.usps.com/publications/pub162/welcome.htm
• 20. https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/behind-the-badge-case-histories-dangerous-mail-bombs/unabomber
• 21. https://about.usps.com/publications/pub162/welcome.htm
• 22. https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/2011/09/september-11-collecting-for-the-national-postal-museum.html
• 23. https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/behind-the-badge-case-histories-dangerous-mail/anthrax
• 24. https://www.uspis.gov/about/history-of-uspis/#2012
• 25. https://www.uspis.gov/about/history-of-uspis/#2015
• 26. https://www.uspis.gov/about/history-of-uspis/#2018
• 27. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/leaders-we-build-wall-online-fundraising-campaign-charged-defrauding-hundreds-thousands
• 28. https://www.uspis.gov/election-mail-security/

Add subheading “Notable Surveyors and Inspectors”. List the following individuals:

• William Goddard (1740 – 1817) – First Postal Surveyor, appointed by Benjamin Franklin
• Noah Webster (1758 – 1843) – Author of the dictionary
• Allan Pinkerton (1819 – 1884) – Founder of the Pinkerton Detective Agency
• Anthony Comstock (1844 – 1915) – Anti-vice activist, namesake of the Comstock Laws
• John Clum (1851 – 1935) – Witness to the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, later established mail service in Alaska
• George B. Hamlet (d. 1926) – First Black Chief Inspector
• Jesse M. Donaldson (1885 – 1970) – First Postal Inspector promoted to Post Master General
• Elmer Irey (1888 – 1948) – First Chief of the Internal Revenue Service Intelligence Unit
• Harry D. Holmes (1905 – 1989) – Witness to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, last person to interview Lee Harvey Oswald
• Robert Moon (1917 – 2001) – Father of the ZIP Code, nicknamed Mr. ZIP
• Abigail Spanberger (1979-) - US Representative

Elmer Irey's Ghost (talk) 21:35, 12 January 2021 (UTC)