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In other postal facilities--garages, warehouses, equipment repair shops--Postal Police provide the
full range of security services, guarding against burglary, hijacking, and other illegal acts.
As the nature of criminals and their crimes has become more sophisticated, the work of the Postal
Police Officer has become more complex, more challenging, and more dangerous.
Working Conditions
Full-time employees work an eight-hour day, five days a week. Both full-time and part-time employees
who work more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week receive overtime pay of one-and-one-half times
their hourly rate. In addition, pay is higher for those on the night shift.
Postal employees earn 13 days of annual leave (vacation) during each of their first three years of service
including prior federal civilian and military service, 20 days each year for three to 15 years of service,
and 26 days after 15 years. In addition, they earn 13 days of paid sick leave a year regardless of length
of service.
Other benefits include retirement and survivorship annuities, free group life insurance, and optional
participation in health insurance programs supported in part by the Postal Service.
Promotion Opportunities
Advancement opportunities are available for most postal workers because there is a management
commitment to provide career development. Also, employees can get preferred assignments, such as the
day shift, as their seniority increases. When an opening occurs, employees may submit written requests,
called "bids," for assignment to the vacancy. The bidder who meets the qualifications and has the most
seniority gets the job.
Postal Police Officers can advance through police ranks--Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain--in a manner
similar to Municipal, County, or State Police Officers. They may also advance into the ranks of the Postal
Inspection Service and become Postal Inspectors.
POSTAL INSPECTOR
Protection of the U.S. mail system is the primary mission of the Postal Inspection Service, a separate
department of the U.S. Postal Service. The Inspection Service is a major federal law enforcement agency
whose professional staff of Postal Inspectors carry out the security, investigative, audit, and enforcement
responsibilities that keep the postal system sound and stable. It has jurisdiction in all criminal matters
related to the integrity and security of the mail and the safety of all postal property, valuables, and
personnel. The Inspection Service plays a key role in maintaining effective postal operations by helping
establish safe and efficient systems, investigating criminal matters, and making certain that the mails are
not used to encourage criminal activities.
Duties of the Job
Postal Inspectors perform a variety of duties and have jurisdiction over 85 postal-related laws. Their
responsibilities can be divided into three broad areas: criminal investigations, audit investigations, and
security/administrative functions.
Criminal investigations deal with illegal acts committed against the U.S. Postal Service, its property,
and its personnel. The following are some examples of cases in the jurisdiction of the U.S. Postal
Inspection Service: post office burglaries (robberies of postal facilities, vehicles, or mail carriers);
