A Postman Dies: Random violence claims carrier

Tulsa Times ^ | 12/15/01 | World Editorial Writers

[JohnD9207]

Random violence claims carrier

Robert Jenkins, husband and father, did not walk his Tulsa mail route Wednesday thinking that it would be his day to die.

He left for his job, as most of us do, expecting to work his shift and then return home to those he held dear.

Things did not work out that way for Jenkins, 30, the victim of an apparent random act of violence. He will never go home and his 18 month old daughter will not grow up with her father.

The nine-year postal veteran took a bullet in the back. Witnesses claim the bullet came from the gun of Jason Weed, 27. Weed was arrested a few minutes later near the Brookside district, carrying a loaded gun and acting erratically.

Weed was booked into the Tulsa Jail on a first-degree murder complaint.

By all accounts Jenkins was a dedicated worker in a job that can be thankless and physically demanding.

"Everyone liked him," said John Harrison, president of the Tulsa chapter of the National Letter Carriers Association. "He was a good employee."

Around Oklahoma, flags at post offices were at half staff and a fund for the family was set up at the Tulsa Postal Federal Credit Union.

Letter carriers fight bad weather, snarling dogs, heavy traffic and other hazzards on a day-in, day-out basis. And while a postal handler died this fall from inhalation anthrax, no route carrier had been a homicide victim in a couple of years.

The last homicides included a letter carrier who was shot at a Los Angeles Jewish community center. Another was murdered in a carjacking in rural Mississippi. In fiscal 2000, postal inspectors responded to 1,037 postal related assults and credible threats. Their investigations led to 441 arrests.

"The thought of delivering mail and encountering what happened (to Jenkins) Couldn't possibly be anticipated by any letter carrier," one postal supervisor said.

Indeed it could not. In this year, when so much violence has rained down on America, the death of Robert Jenkins marks yet another instance of man's inhumanity to man.

[caitlynsmom]

He was just that and more. His route was one that consisted mainly of nursing homes and assisted living complexes. He would tell me stories of the ladies on his route that would put cookies out for him and if he didnt take it, they would shove it in his bag or leave it on the seat of his truck. He got alot of joy from his work on the good days and put up with alot of gruff on the bad ones. He had to dig his truck out of many snowbanks and spent hours everyday in 114 degree heat in a truck with no air conditioning. Next summer when you see your mailman out there in the heat, remember there is no air conditioning in those trucks. Im sorry if I ramble but I am still in shock over the cruel words written to me and my family this morning. I am just glad that my father is on the road and didnt get a chance to read those hurtful things. Thanks to the moderator for removing that person from this caring forum.

[NCEaglette]

As I type this reply with tears in my eyes...Please accept my heartfelt condolences. I am so very sorry to hear of your son(in-law)'s death. You, your daughter, and your grandchildren will be in my prayers. May your faith in God strengthen and comfort you. He will see you through.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Oh! Just now read this thread. (Thanks, SB, for the ping!)

Words cannot express the sadness and sympathy this news brings.

Thank you both for bringing this news to the attention of the Free Republic family.

But, it is so very sad this happened - and that the perpetrator will not be required to pay the due penalty for this crime!

Life in prison is much too good for this killer!

Please give your daughter - and granddaughter - some extra hugs for me!

And, if we could, I know many Freepers would be right there with you both to stand beside you in this time of grief.

Hopefully, many will respond to this news with different kinds of help. Right now - you have my prayers throughout the coming days. God be with each of you - especially with the precious little one!

[IronJack]

If there is any question to the validity of this claim, contact the credit union before contributing any money. And if anyone has already contacted them, could you please post the results of your conversation?

[deadhead]

Prayers for you and yours. I am so sorry. May God Bless Robert.

[GovernmentShrinker]

The credit union is clearly legitimate, as it turns up on the Infospace directory at the address and phone shown in posts 5 and 6. If the Robert Jenkins Family Fund weren't legitimate, I'm quite confident that the credit union would return the contribution to the sender (as well as notify police, if they received a flurry of donations designated for a phony fund). Donate away:

Robert Jenkins Family Fund
c/o Tulsa Postal Federal Credit Union
1419 S. Denver Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74119

918-582-1965

[ArneFufkin]

Thanks to the moderator for removing that person from this caring forum.

Amen!

[sneakypete]

His daughter will never get to know what a special person he was or how hard he worked to make sure that she was taken care of.

Sure she will. You and the rest of your family will tell her.

[JohnD9207]

Thanks Brother, as I just explained to my daughter, comments like those from ArneFukin are to be expected. As you might imagine, it would be easy to just hate humanity right now, but idiots abound. Unfortunitely for us, a drugged out gen x idiot ripped my family apart. Folks, the fund is available. Check it out (as I would any other claim). As most of you have found out, this is as REAL as it gets. If you don't want to check out the news reports (the same guys in the helicopter over the church during the funeral service) why don't you just call the Tulsa Post office. They are as scared and upset and anyone. For the rest of you who doubt...don't give anything. As I said in my original post while a fund exists, my main reason for posting was to help my daughter see that there are good people out there. If your posts are here to hurt my family...too late. No one here can be hurt anymore than we are now. This was just mean't to help my daughter see that there is someone good out there. The posts have given my daughter something to think about other than her grief. To those who pray with us...THANKS.

John

[austinTparty]

Prayers are offered... with sympathy.

[GovernmentShrinker]

See post #87.

[milagro]

God bless you and your daughter! I work for the Post Office--and so does my hubby, who is a rural carrier. The thought of losing him hurts my heart so much--I can't imagine how terrible your grief must be!

Thank you for being so passionate--not about your loss but about our need to show love to one another. It is so easy to take each other for granted--instead of seeing each other as a gift God gives us to rejoice in. I admire your determination to remind us of this.

I believe Satan hates to see us happy--and rejoices when he can find a soul who will help him destroy our joy. Then he tries to turn our grief into bitterness so we start to blame God instead of him for what happens. Your utter lack of bitterness--and sweetness in urging us to love one another--is very humbling! It is a lesson in faith--and a very special gift you have given to us here on FR. Thank you!

I pray very urgently that God hold your very tightly in His arms over the next days, weeks and months and give you the comfort and peace that only He can provide.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Nice typo on Arne's name -- must have been a Freudian slip, eh? LOL!

[Demidog]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Two Christmasses ago, I lost my Cousin and her two little boys 7 and 2. She and her boys were killed after she lost control of her car and was broadsided. It's a terrible time to lose family. I hope you are well.

[caitlynsmom]

I will keep your husband in my prayers, as well as all postal employees. My concerns are not about money, but about nobody else having to feel the same pain and loss that my family is feeling. I went to the post office to see where my husband worked. They had his station all covered with flowers. There was a man there who now has to walk the same route as my husband did. He is overwhelmed by the customers who have been watching out for him and let him know how much my husband was liked for the simple fact that he was always polite and had a smile on his face. All of these prayers and sentiments are worth more than money to us right now. And I know he is looking down and smiling. I love you Robert.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Bump!

[Landru]

Words totally fail me.
My wife & I send our sincerest condolences to you, & your daughter over this tremendous loss of love.
This was as senseless an act as it gets.

[calypgin]

I am going out right now to put some cookies and a card in my mail box for my postman and tell him 'Thanks' just because you made me think about it.

I, too, put a gift out for my "mail lady" this year.

My prayers are with you, caitlynsmom and JohnD9207.

[pubmom]

Please know that you have my heartfelt condolences.
Any time of the year for this to happen would be terrible, but especially now.
I will keep you all in my prayers, and will pray for justice in the upcoming trial.
There may be a few skunk cabbages among the roses as far as freepers go, but most of us are good people that are here for you both.

May God bless you and see you through this difficult time.

[mountaineer]

As a former Tulsa resident, I was curious about the news story and found the link didn't work. However, I have found a link to a Tulsa TV station's coverage, here.