The United States Postal Service (USPS) is facing significant backlash after contracting with Prosegur, a multinational security firm with a troubled history, to provide armed security guards at postal facilities across the country.

Public records have revealed that USPS approved a deal with Prosegur, which has been accused of human rights abuses and price-fixing in the past. The monetary specifics of the contract remain undisclosed due to government redactions.

Current and former USPS employees have expressed concerns over the deployment of nearly 1,000 Armed Security Officers (ASOs) at 55 facilities nationwide, with some alleging a troubling pattern of misconduct by Prosegur-hired guards.

Frank Albergo, executive director of the Postal Police Officers Association, noted that the deployment of ASOs is not based on actual security risks but rather the number of employees at a facility. This questionable allocation has led to armed guards being assigned to facilities where there had previously been little to no crime.

In a notable example, Topeka, Kansas, will see an increase in security presence, with a contract starting on October 2 transitioning unarmed guards to armed ones, escalating from 120 to a staggering 712 hours per week.

While USPS spokesperson emphasized that the armed guards are part of an overall security plan, the postal unions argue that this shift represents a move against traditionally unionized Postal Police Officers.

Former Postal Police Officer Jim Bjork criticized this decision, indicating that certain processing centers would have more armed guards than actual police presence in major cities like Chicago.

Concerns regarding the job responsibilities of ASOs have surfaced, as there seems to be conflicting information about whether these armed guards possess law enforcement authority. Some job postings suggest responsibilities could include making arrests, while USPS representatives have asserted they will not conduct arrests or pose as police officers.

Training practices for these ASOs have also come under scrutiny. While the Postal Police receive approximately 1,440 hours of training, former postal employee Albergo noted that armed security guards’ training varies significantly—from as little as four hours in some states.

In light of these issues, concerns have been raised about the potential for conflicts of interest, especially since Prosegur has a history of ineffectiveness and allows unauthorized personnel access to sensitive postal facilities.

Amid these revelations, Prosegur’s history further complicates matters. The company has previously faced fines for its involvement in a price-fixing scandal in Chile and has been accused of violating human rights in various nations, particularly in Latin America.

Experts have voiced apprehension about Prosegur’s ability to provide secure environments for USPS employees and the mail. Mark Ungar, a political scientist, summarized the situation by questioning the discretion exercised in contracting with a firm that has had troubling allegations surrounding its operations.

Administrative notes indicate that these contracts approve around 40,000 hours of work weekly for armed guards, a practice that raises eyebrows given USPS’s ongoing financial troubles, reporting significant losses this fiscal year.

Several USPS employees have reported feelings of intimidation, even describing instances where they felt physically unsafe due to alleged aggressive behavior from ASOs. An April 2024 incident involved a guard allegedly using physical force against a postal worker.

Miriam Bell, president of a local postal workers union, likened the influx of ASOs to an attempt at union-busting, asserting that the motives behind hiring contracted guards rather than traditional postal police were not altruistic but strategic.

Despite the criticisms, USPS continues to forecast that deploying armed guards will cut down on theft and vandalism. However, the situation continues to fuel a heated debate among union leaders, employees, and stakeholders who fear the implications on job security and safety.

As the controversy unfolds, industry watchers are left questioning the viability of relying on contracted security within the U.S. Postal Service. The choice to hire armed guards instead of enhancing the current police force has sparked fears that history may be repeating itself.

In a system that was once deemed sufficient in the face of security threats, the potential return to a model reliant on private security appears counterproductive, reigniting long-standing fears about safety and accountability.