Mail carriers keep getting attacked in California neighborhood, so USPS halts service

The United States Postal Service suspended operations in a California neighborhood after multiple mail carriers were assaulted on the job, local media reports.

Residents at an apartment complex on 14th Street in Santa Monica received a notice on their mailbox, notifying them of the “unfortunate” decision, NBC Los Angeles reported.

“This is unfortunate, but please be advised that the Post Service does not enter into decisions to suspend service lightly,” USPS officials said in the letter, according to the outlet. “Multiple carriers have been subjected to assaults and threats of assault.”

Santa Monica police Sgt. Erika Aklufi confirmed to McClatchy News that there has been at least one reported incident of an attack on a mail carrier in the area. The incident took place on Jan. 19, when someone attacked a mail carrier with a broomstick.

The attacker was “a subject who lived in the area and is known to our officers and also to the mail carrier he attacked,” Aklufi said.

The mail carrier “sustained a minor injury to his arm and did not require medical attention,” according to Akulfi.

Aklufi said the department’s detectives reached out to the victim several times during their investigation, but that USPS “declined prosecution for the incident.” Police became aware of USPS’s decision to suspend service in the area late on April 9, Akulfi said.

“If there were other incidents of USPS mail carriers being attacked, we were unable to locate additional reports,” the department said.

However, USPS told McClatchy News in an email that there have been three separate instances of attacks on different mail carriers in that area.

“For the safety of our employees, we have had to temporarily suspend delivery of mail to these customers,” Natashi Garvins, spokeswoman for USPS Los Angeles, said. “However, mail is available for pickup at the Main Post Office located on 7th Street. This is an unusual, but necessary step to protect our employees.”

Some residents are annoyed by the decision, KTLA reported.

“It doesn’t make sense,” Michael Fan told the outlet. “Why do I have to drive to the post office, pay for parking, for mail that should be delivered by our tax money?”

In a statement, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said that its inspectors are still investigating the incidents and are unable to comment further.

“Postal Inspectors encourage anyone who observes suspicious activity involving US Mail to report it to local police and to Postal Inspectors at 1-877-876-2455,” the agency said.

This story was originally published April 12, 2022 at 12:43 PM with the headline "Mail carriers keep getting attacked in California neighborhood, so USPS halts service."