PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH SUSPICIOUS MAIL OR PACKAGES
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

UW-L Emergency Response Number     789-9999

UW-La Crosse Mail Service: Mail for campus departments and offices is picked up every weekday morning at the U.S. Post Office in downtown La Crosse and delivered to the Graff Main Hall Mailroom, where it is sorted and prepared for delivery to the campus. A U.S. Postal Carrier delivers mail for the campus residence halls directly to each residence hall. Other mail or packages may also be delivered to Campus Stores or directly to campus departments, offices, and residence halls by vendors such as UPS, Fed Ex, and DHL. 

How To Identify Suspicious Packages and Letters: Some characteristics of suspicious packages and letters identified by the F.B.I and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are:

• Excessive postage

• Handwritten or poorly typed addresses

• Incorrect titles

• Title, but no name

• Misspellings of common words

• Oily stains, discolorations or odor

• No return address

• Excessive weight

• Lopsided or uneven envelope

• Protruding wires or aluminum foil

• Excessive security material such as masking tape, string, etc.

• Visual distractions

• Ticking sound

• Marked with restrictive endorsements, such as "Personal" or "Confidential"

• Shows a city or state in the postmark that does not match the return address

What To Do If You Receive a Suspicious Letter or Package: 

• DO NOT OPEN the envelope or package. LEAVE IT in the location where it was identified.

• LEAVE the room and CLOSE and LOCK the door behind you or section off the area to prevent others from entering.

• CONTACT, or request another person to contact, the UW-L Emergency Response Number, 789-9999. Be prepared to provide information related to the nature of the suspicious item, mail/package recipient name, the location of yourself and the suspicious item, and a list of all people who were in the room or area when the suspicious letter or package was recognized.

• WASH with soap and water if there is any potential that you or your clothes came in contact with a powder or other residue. If you suspect your hands are contaminated, attempt to limit contaminating other surfaces.

• WAIT for assistance from emergency responders in a safe location outside of the office or area where the letter or package is located.

What Happens Next: Upon notification to Protective Services, the UW-L Emergency Response and Preparedness Plan will be implemented. UW-L Protective Services will request support from local emergency responders. The La Crosse Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) Response Team will provide primary support. UW-L Protective Services and the HAZMAT team will respond to the scene, secure the area, provide emergency medical services, identify and speak with all individuals who came in contact with the suspicious item, remove the suspicious item for testing, and take any other appropriate actions necessary to assure a safe and healthful working, learning and living environment. Suspicious items removed for testing are not returned. 

Questions on this procedure can be referred to the following campus resources: 
       
        Scott Rohde, Director of Protective Services, 785-8711
        Dan Sweetman, Environmental Health, Safety & Risk Manager, 785-6800

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