Pokin Around: People a little suspicious when their letter carrier isn’t in uniform

Last week, I noticed a discussion in the online group Nextdoor that focused on security concerns when letter carriers in Springfield do not wear their U.S. Postal Service uniforms.

Two people chimed in on the post to say their carrier doesn’t wear a USPS uniform. That made three. The person who made the post said he felt uncomfortable because his letter carrier doesn’t.

I joined Nextdoor a few months ago, when I was reporting a story about a man living in a Southern Hills home without the owner’s permission. I quickly learned that people on Nextdoor often share videos of suspected porch pirates, as well as videos of suspicious-looking strangers ringing their doorbells.

I wondered how many videos there are of me standing at someone’s front door with a notepad in hand.

I don’t worry about my letter carrier. I occasionally see him — usually on Saturdays while I’m doing yard work. We smile and say “hello.” He wears his USPS uniform.

Nevertheless, it is clear to me that some folks are suspicious when people not in a USPS uniform open their mailboxes. I would be, too.

The USPS explains why it requires that many employees wear a uniform.

• To project an appearance to the public that is neat, professional, and pleasing.
• To help develop in the employee a feeling of esprit de corps.
• To provide immediate visual identification with the Postal Service to the public.

Must wear uniform after 90-day probation period

I took this local Nextdoor conversation to Tara Jarrett, strategic communications specialist for the postal service. I even sent her some snips of what people were saying on Nextdoor. She is based in St. Joseph.

Here’s what she said via email:

“City carriers are required to wear USPS uniform after they have completed 90-day probationary period. The rural carriers are not required to wear a uniform. If customers have concerns about delivery personnel, we recommend contacting your local post office.”

Her response certainly was short and sweet. Far shorter than I wanted or expected. I had asked her various other questions she did not answer.

But her snippet reveals that it’s possible that the person putting mail in your mailbox — and not wearing a USPS uniform — just might be a USPS probationary employee.

But how do you know for sure?

One of my unanswered questions was this: Can a homeowner simply ask the letter carrier for an identification badge?

The apparent answer, which I compiled after spending some time online, is that letter carriers have an identification badge and they should show it to you if they are asked to do so. If they don’t have a badge or refuse to show it, express your concern to a supervisor at the local post office.

Letter carriers on rural routes, where they spend most of their time in a vehicle, are not required to wear USPS uniforms.

Those on city routes are. Unless they are a probationary letter carrier.

The logic, I believe, is that it would be unfair for a probationary employee to spend a couple hundred bucks for a uniform and then not be hired after 90 days. What good would those USPS pants be if you don’t get the job?

Clothing allowance of $536 a year

After 90 days, letter carriers who are beyond their probationary period are required to wear a uniform and as a result they receive a uniform allowance, or stipend.

That annual allowance — negotiated via contract — currently is $536 a year with an additional $125 for newly eligible carriers.

But even probationary letter carriers working city routes must wear one piece of the uniform: the “prescribed uniform cap.”

What exactly is the “prescribed uniform cap”? you ask.

Baseball hats: Both summer mesh and winter options are available.

Knit caps that can include a face mask for cold weather.

Visors for sunny days.

Plastic helmets.

Sun hats designed for sun protection, with features like wide brims and breathable fabrics.

They all have the USPS logo on them.

USPS has obvious love of acronyms

If you think about it — which I never had until today and probably never will again — it makes for an odd twist. If you’re a veteran letter carrier on a city route you must wear a USPS uniform, but the cap is optional. If you’re a probationary letter carrier on a city route you don’t have to wear a uniform, but you must wear a USPS cap.

I contacted a USPS employee I know for additional information — to try to fill in some of the gaps. She did not want to be named because the USPS is very particular about who talks to reporters.

You can tell the USPS is a serious organization by the number of acronyms it uses in explaining its policies, such as PVS, PSE, AMF, CAG and BMEU.

(BMEU stands for Business Mail Entry Unit, of course.)

If I had wanted a life of acronyms I would have joined the Army.

This working postal employee told me that new hires in their probationary period often wear a uniform donated by retiring letter carriers or those with, say, 20 shirts in their closet.

She also said that the ID badge must be worn while on the job and that it must be shown when anyone asks for it.

Can just anyone buy a USPS uniform?

It occurs to me that the discussion on Nextdoor is based on the presumption that someone going into your mailbox wearing a USPS uniform must therefore be a USPS employee.

Yet, when I look online there are various places to buy USPS uniforms. What if someone with nefarious purposes wanted to purchase a uniform? Is there a protocol to verify the person making the purchase actually is a USPS employee?

That was one of the questions left unanswered by the USPS strategic communications specialist.

So I called a business called Postal Uniforms Direct. A woman named Hortencia (she declined to give her last name) said the business was in Kansas and that a USPS database is used to make sure those buying uniforms are actually employed by the USPS.

This is Pokin Around column No. 285.