The officer put in a call to Madison Postmaster Kim Mayo and left a pointed message, summarized in her report: "I explained to her that at the time we were looking for the possible thief of the package, a bank fraud that was ongoing could not be properly attended to because the East units were tied up in an attempt to assist" in stopping a suspect vehicle. <

Mayo called back and apologized. <

In an interview, she said the sting was a security check. <

"We were verifying that we had the proper level of security, and it didn't go well," said Mayo. <

"The supervisor had expected a different result; it was unfortunate that the police were contacted. Our policy is to contact the supervisor first and had that happened, we would have avoided interaction with the police," she said. <

"It turned out badly," she understated, adding, "it could not have gone more wrong." <

"I was very apologetic to the police department," she added, noting that it is important for the Postal Service to maintain good relations with police. <

She attempted to explain the setup: <

"As we heighten our security, one of the issues (with carts) is to verify that the cart is in control of the carrier at all times. In this instance, the supervisor didn't feel it was the case, and wanted to make the point," she said. <

"In this instance," she said, "the supervisor didn't respond quickly enough." <

Asked if there might be any changes in the way supervisors perform their surveillance duties, Mayo said "what it does is increase the awareness for the employees about security." <

The police report noted that the supervisor who spoke to police refused to be identified for fear of "retribution." Should postal supervisors refuse to identify themselves to police investigating a theft? <

"No," said Mayo. <

"This is something that went wrong, with our best intentions. Obviously it is something we have learned from," she said. <

Statz, who took vacation time last week, was reluctant to talk about the incident. She has contacted a lawyer. Her union will file a grievance, said Bob Kaspar, president of branch 507 of the National Association of Letter Carriers. <

Statz has delivered mail on Williamson Street for about four years. She suspects the setup was because she uses a cart, issued by the Postal Service, which she needs because of her back surgery. <

"It's general knowledge that the post office doesn't want us to use a cart, they think you deliver the mail more slowly with a cart," she said. <

She said the cart was not out of her sight when the supervisor sneaked over to steal the package. <

"My cart was in my peripheral vision, about eight yards away. <

"I saw somebody approach my cart, he kept his back to me, blocking the view of what he was doing. I could not see exactly what was happening, but my instinct was that he took something and put it in his coat. Another witness saw him stick it in his coat. <

"I watched him walk away. I didn't recognize the guy, but I got a good description. What did I do? I took my cart and made three lunges toward him." <

She did not chase, because, she said, of her bad back "and I didn't know who I was dealing with." <

Kaspar, the union president, would not elaborate because, he said, a code of conduct keeps him from saying anything "that reflects badly on the Postal Service." <

What was in the package? And was it eventually delivered, despite the best efforts of thieving supervisors? <

Mayo said it was a genuine piece of mail, a box, and it was delivered that day. <

Did she also call Statz to apologize? <

"I have spoken with her personally." <

Did she apologize? <

"We are under investigation right now. But she knows that I am apologetic of the way that things turned out." <

Reach George Hesselberg at ghesselberg@madison.com, 252-6140, or at the Wisconsin State Journal, P.O. Box 8058, Madison, WI 53708. <