A postal worker has received several threatening letters at work and at home.
The messages ridicule him for being Hispanic, but the USPS employee was born and raised in the United States.
In February, the first letter was found on the letter carrier’s vehicle at the Port Matilda Post Office.
It calls him a terrorist and in typed text it says “go back to mexico,” amongst profanity and spelling errors.
One of the postal workers, who asked to remain anonymous, said the letter brought a sense of darkness to work.
“After shock I guess people started being afraid not only for the person it was directed to but for each person…All of us were afraid.”
On Saturday, the second letter was found by a customer on the lobby floor.
This time written by stencil:
“Warning time is over…Dan and Housel hate u. Bonnie wants a blade between ur C3 and C4. Go home hurt or whole…The choice is urs.”
The postal worker said singling out employees by name or race is terrifying, and said they feel management is not taking it seriously.
“It hasn’t been handled so far. It’s like, as if it never happened. It hasn’t been spoken of, it hasn’t been spoken about….other than not to speak to the media.”
The fearful employee said they’ve only been told that if they speak, they could lose their job.
But the worker said now more than ever staff is looking for reassurance about their safety and guidance on what to do if it happens again.
“Sometimes they forget that their most important asset is the people, their employees and they have to protect their people, all their people.”
Patton Township Police said it did happen again, a third letter was found at the residence of the letter carrier.
Handwritten, it says “they decided to bring someone in to set traps…innocent could get hurt…just leave our town.”
Ruth Cooper said she’s lived in Port Matilda for about 15 years and didn’t initially know about the situation.
After learning about the incident she said something should be done.
“I think I would put security cameras so they know what’s getting put on vehicles, to try to at least maybe capture who’s doing it also,” Cooper said.
WTAJ reached out to USPS investigators who said it is an open investigation but they have no additional comments.
Meanwhile a postal worker said staff feels extremely vulnerable on the road and at the office.
