Pub 129 Safety Talks - APWU

Safetv Talks 15-14Attacks and Personal SafetyThe safety and sanctity of the mail should be every postal employee’sconcern. However, if confronted with a potential injury by a robber orassailant, clerks, carriers, drivers, and all other postal employees shouldmake personal safety the primary concern.The Postal Inspection Service uses every investigative means available toidentify, apprehend, and prosecute offenders who jeopardize the safety ofon-duty postal employees. Aggressive attention by the Postal Service’slaw enforcement arm has helped reduce the number of such offenses.If you are the victim of a holdup, the Inspection Service suggests youfollow this advice to protect yourself and to aid investigators in catchingthe offenders:Comply with the robber’s demanak. Do not endanger yourself byresisting or physically attacking the aggressor. Assume that any gunused in a robbery is loaded.Do not anger or harass the attacker. Often, robbers are under theinfluence of drugs and are not rational. Take no unnecessary risks.If the robber presents a holdup note or other written instructions, wy to:keep it. Such evidence often provides key information toinvestigators. Handle the note as little as possible to avoid damagingthe evidence.Report a robbery as soon as possible. Report such an incident assoon as possible to the nearest postal inspector or inspector-in-chargeand to the local law enforcement agency.While you should not jeopardize your safety, there are several things youcan do to help investigators track down the offender. The most importantis making mental notes of key information which could help lawenforcement officials identify the robber:Clothing. Note the color, style, and condition of hat, shirt, tie, scarf,coat, jacket, gloves, trousers, skirt, shoes.Physical characteristics. Pay attention to the hair color, whether hairis thick or thin, straight or curly, the part and the style or combing.What color are the eyes, and are they close or far set, small or large?Is the nose small or large; is the mouth small, large, broad or narrow;the chin square, broad, long or narrow? Is the complexion light, dark,ruddy, pale? Remember to note race, sex, age, height, weight,mustache, beard, or sideburns. Does the robber have a slight,medium, or heavy build?Pub. 129, October 1990