Postal Inspectors: The Silent Service

The National Postal Museum's website is featuring a new on-site and on-line exhibit which debuted earlier this month, Postal Inspectors: The Silent Service .

Protecting the mail, postal employees and customers from criminal attack, and the nation's mail system from criminal misuse is the job of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Sometimes called the "Silent Service," it is one of the oldest federal law enforcement agencies in the country.

Postal inspectors began their work when Postmaster General Benjamin Franklin named William Goddard surveyor of the post in 1776.

Today about 2,000 postal inspectors are at work across the United States investigating crimes against the mail. Inspectors are armed, can make arrests and serve federal search warrants and subpoenas.

To visit Postal Inspectors: The Silent Service, click here.