A message from the District Manager Scott Hooper…

Filming in or Around Post Offices In today’s digital world, roughly 85% of Americans own a smartphone. This means almost everyone has a camera. It also means individuals can film postal employees and our postal facilities at the press of a button. In some cases, videos taken by these individuals are posted to social media and attributed to groups espousing First Amendment rights. These videos attempt to capture our employees in argumentative situations confronting photographers or videographers and often portray postal service employees negatively, damaging our brand. Here are guidelines to follow, if you see someone filming at a postal facility – either outside or the facility. Just remember the Three “R”s – Refrain, Report, and Resume – three simple steps. Refrain: Simply put, don’t take the bait. The goal of this group is to elicit a response from postal employees or managers, law enforcement, and others, in order to record video of confrontations and post them on social media sites. No one – Retail Clerks, Supervisors, Managers, or Postmasters – should approach these individuals. • Do not insist they stop filming or state that they are in violation of the law. • Do not ask their name or who they represent. • Do not demand they leave the premises. • Do not engage in a debate with them or answer any questions they may ask you. • Employees should avoid using their own personal smartphones to record any interactions. Report: Immediately report any individuals filming in or around a facility. Craft employees who observe this behavior should notify their Supervisor or Manager. Management employees should immediately call the Inspection Service hotline at 1-877-876-2455. Calls to local law enforcement (911) should only be made if the person is interfering with operations or if immediate safety or security concerns arise. Resume: All employees should resume their normal duties, ignoring any individuals filming in a lobby or outside a facility, and instead let law enforcement handle the situation. Law enforcement has the lead, so be sure to simply observe, report, and wait for help to arrive.