Six Jacksonville letter carriers were attacked in 2023, according to the National Association of Letter Carriers.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Hundreds of letter carriers filled downtown Jacksonville Sunday.
They weren’t carrying mail – they were carrying signs that read “Enough is enough.”
There were 300 blue shirts on the front steps as different postal workers shared their stories about attacks and robberies.
Some have even experienced it first hand.
“I did have a gun put to my head, but it was by a teenager who was out showing off for a couple of friends,” said National Association of Letter Carriers Jacksonville Chapter President Jim Thigpenn. “I was out delivering on the Westside of Jacksonville and it was intimidating.”
Thigpenn always knew the risks when he joined the military and deployed in several dangerous situations.
However, he thought that would all be behind him when he came back to the states and became a letter carrier for USPS.
“You’re expecting some kind of violence in those situations, but when you’re in the streets of Jacksonville, Florida, it’s not supposed to happen,” said Thigpenn.
But it did happen, and not just to Thigpenn.
In fact, the National Association of Letter Carriers reports six postal workers were attacked on the job in Jacksonville last year, in addition to 12 smash-and-grabs.
“The community needs to know we are under attack,” said Thigpenn. “We are being preyed upon out on the streets.”
The letter carriers are asking for more priority when it comes to prosecuting people arrested for attacking or robbing them.
They’re also pushing for more mental health counselors for letter carriers who are victims of violence.
They need help from folks at home, like making sure doorbell cameras are working and recording so there will be evidence of any attacks.
“Just come out and say hi,” said Thigpenn. “People coming out to say hi, people see other people right in front of us, people aren’t going to commit these crimes right in front of us.”
A spokesperson with USPS says they’ve taken strides to cut down on robberies, by rolling out harder collection boxes and new, electronic locks to start replacing the old arrow locks.
The union leader from Chicago says they’ve even kicked around the idea of body cams and bulletproof vests.
“You need to be taking extra precautions that are usually saved for a wartime, combat situation,” said Thigpenn.
Union members from across the country plan to sit down with the district attorney in Jacksonville to talk about how these cases are prosecuted.
