Introduction

As one of our country's oldest federal law enforcement agencies, founded by Benjamin Franklin, the United States Postal Inspection Service has a long, proud and successful history of fighting criminals who attack our nation's postal system and misuse it to defraud, endanger or otherwise threaten the American public. As the law enforcement and security arm of the United States Postal Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is a highly specialized, professional organization performing investigative and security functions essential to a stable and sound postal system.

Congress empowered the Postal Service "to investigate postal offenses and civil matters relating to the Postal Service." Through its security and enforcement functions, the Postal Inspection Service provides assurances to American businesses for the safe exchange of funds and securities through the U.S. Mail; to postal customers of the "sanctity of the seal" in transmitting correspondence and messages; and to postal employees of a safe work environment.

As fact-finding and investigative agents, Postal Inspectors are federal law enforcement officers who carry firearms, make arrests, execute federal search warrants and serve subpoenas. Inspectors work closely with U.S. Attorneys, other law enforcement agencies and local prosecutors to investigate postal cases and prepare them for court. There are more than 1,900 Postal Inspectors stationed throughout the United States who enforce roughly 200 federal laws covering investigations of crimes that adversely affect or fraudulently use the U.S. Mail and postal system.

To assist in carrying out its responsibilities, the Postal Inspection Service maintains a Security Force staffed by more than 1,400 uniformed Postal Police Officers who are assigned to critical postal facilities throughout the country. The officers provide perimeter security, escort high-value mail shipments and perform other essential protective functions.

The Postal Inspection Service operates five forensic crime laboratories strategically located in cities across the country. The labs are staffed with forensic scientists and technical specialists, who assist Inspectors in analyzing evidentiary material needed for identifying and tracking criminal suspects and in providing expert testimony for cases going to trial.

The Inspection Service's 900 professional and technical employees, who include forensic specialists, information technology experts, financial analysts and others, play a vital role in supporting the criminal investigative and security functions of the Postal Inspection Service. They perform a wide variety of tasks, including developing and continually upgrading information systems; providing forensic examinations of evidence; deploying electronic security and surveillance equipment; publishing policy handbooks and consumer awareness guides; supplying photography and video services; and facilitating direct communications with Congress and the public.

The National Headquarters offices of the Postal Inspection Service are organized in functional groups that report to Deputy Chief Inspectors for Investigations, Security & Information Technology, and Professional Standards & Resource Development. The Postal Inspection Service has 18 field divisions, which report directly to two Deputy Chief Inspectors for field operations. Field offices are supported by five Inspection Service Operations Support Groups. The Inspection Service's Executive Committee, which comprises the Chief Postal Inspector, five Deputy Chief Inspectors and the three Inspectors in Charge who report directly to the Chief Postal Inspector, establishes the direction of the organization. The National Leadership Team consists of the Deputy Chief Inspectors and all Inspectors in Charge.

The Postal Inspection Service's national information technology infrastructure supports about 4,300 users at more than 220 sites nationwide. Inspection Service offices are linked nationally via a dedicated frame-relay network, with online connections to the Postal Service, the National Crime Information Center, the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System and the Internet.

The Office of Inspections' threefold mission is to promote integrity and excellence in the Postal Inspection Service through independent internal investigations of its employees, oversee the quality and thoroughness of Inspection Service operations by conducting reviews of field divisions and headquarter units, and protect the safety of postal employees and customers by providing security and preventive services at National Headquarters.

The Office of Counsel provides legal advice and services in support of Postal Inspection Service investigations, programs and goals, and processes requests for access to Inspection Service records. The Counsel's office comprises 20 Inspector-Attorneys and a support staff of paralegal specialists, information disclosure specialists, a labor relations specialist, a program specialist and an administrative support specialist.

Charged with managing the Postal Inspection Service's internal and external communications, staff from the office of Congressional & Public Affairs (C&PA) issue news and video releases for national distribution, as well as preventive and informational publications for postal employees and the public. C&PA personnel represent Inspection Service interests on Capitol Hill and in liaison efforts with other government and law enforcement agencies. C&PA's Internet Web site provides weekly news updates and in-depth advice for the public on mail theft and mail fraud, and an Intranet Web site facilitates employee communications.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service extends full cooperation to all federal, state and local investigative and prosecutive authorities in law enforcement matters to ensure greater protection to the public. Postal Inspectors regularly participate in joint task force cases with other agencies aimed at curtailing widespread criminal acts of an organized nature.

For more information on the Postal Inspection Service, please visit our Web site at www.usps.com/postalinspectors.

Leadership Team of the United States Postal Inspection Service
FY 2001

K.C. Weaver, Chief Postal Inspector