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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Volunteer award goes to Habitat for Humanity helper Medford council taxes pot at every step Find Halloween fun at the Rogue Valley Mall Advocate will help victims of juvenile offenders Pot buyer allegedly pulls gun and flees Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Advocate will help victims of juvenile offenders Pot buyer allegedly pulls gun and flees OSP still looking for tips in 2013 fatal hit and run near Cave Junction Emergency services Medford stabbing suspect unfit to stand trial, sent to mental hospital Politics and Elections Blue corn seeds stir debate Ads attack Dotterrer and Bates Local gas prices lowest in years Oregonians not in party mood Sign wars rage again in Phoenix Education Marketta Gregory: Stretch yourself for God Medford Schools Foundation supports programs the district can't Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Kids Unlimited Academy awarded $450,000 grant County helps fund RCC job training Environment Local gas prices lowest in years Where do all those leaves go? 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Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Umpqua Holdings more than doubles net earnings Harry & David will hold hiring fair Thursday Opinion Latest Granlund cartoon: Turning back the clocks Our View: Cheers and jeers Letters to the Editor, Oct. 30 Dana Milbank: The 'dictator' is a bystander Granlund cartoon: Netanyahu insulted Editorials Our View: Cheers and jeers Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable Southeast center offers new approach to growth Our View: Cost is a poor excuse for local pot tax Don't bet on pot windfall for schools Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 30 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 29 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 28 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 27 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 Guest Opinions Measure 89 provides equality for women Eagle Point needs public transportation Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure Guest Opinion: Campaigning and voting 'the Oregon way' Guest Opinion: A glimpse into the reality of our elections Lifestyle Latest stories Religion news: Mormon church acknowledges founder’s teen bride Marketta Gregory: Stretch yourself for God Religion Briefs Dr. Murray Feingold: Can shingles be prevented? 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Engagement Wedding: Potter-Hazel Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Singer and songwriter Gene Burnett follows his bliss Spookadelic Halloween Funktacular promises a lively dance party Patty Griffin plays the Historic Ashland Armory Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Theater Review: Funny 'Lion in Winter' roars to life at Camelot Theatre Camelot presents 'The Lion in Winter' 'Carnage' is short, smart, darkly funny Music The Farr Side: On ‘1989,’ Taylor Swift lightens up Singer and songwriter Gene Burnett follows his bliss Patty Griffin plays the Historic Ashland Armory Live Music in Local Clubs Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Community Events Spookadelic Halloween Funktacular promises a lively dance party Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Third Fridays in downtown Medford Works in progress Dining Back Porch Bar & Grill Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Volunteer award goes to Habitat for Humanity helper ... Advocate will help victims of juvenile offenders ... Pot buyer allegedly pulls gun and flees ... Volunteer award goes to Habitat for Humanity helper ... Advocate will help victims of juvenile offenders ... Pot buyer allegedly pulls gun and flees ... CRIME NEWS Above and beyond: Postal worker honored for helping catch fraud suspects By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 29, 2014 @ 5:32 pm Updated Oct 29, 2014 at 6:02 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 29, 2014 @ 5:32 pm Updated Oct 29, 2014 at 6:02 PM » Social News A U.S. Postal Service employee in Medford went above and beyond the call when he chased after suspected crooks who had allegedly been cashing fraudulent money orders in post offices up and down Interstate 5. USPS sales associate Mark Hawkins was formally recognized Wednesday for his efforts by U.S. Postal Inspector William Melvin, receiving a letter of commendation. The incident took place Oct. 17. Hawkins was working the front counter when 17-year-old Lavelle Nichols, of Sacramento, walked in. Hawkins had seen a notice about Nichols earlier, which warned employees to keep an eye out for him and 18-year-old Briannah Gipson, also of Sacramento. Postal Service officials said the pair and at least two others had been purchasing money orders for nominal amounts — anywhere from $1 to $3 — and altering the amounts to triple-digit figures before cashing them. “When someone partakes in an action like this, it costs the postal service a tremendous amount of money, especially if they’re successful in negotiating these instruments," Melvin said. Gipson and Nichols were suspected of already hitting post offices in Roseburg, Salem, Eugene and Portland, allegedly making off with anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000. "In my mind, I thought, OK, this is big-city stuff. This is Portland, Eugene, whatever. I'm not going to see this, you know?" Hawkins said. But he did. Nichols walked in, and Hawkins recognized him, based on the description he'd seen. They made small talk until Nichols handed him the money order for more than $700. "I knew it right away," Hawkins said. Hawkins made an excuse that he needed to grab more cash from the back of the store, where he informed a supervisor. He called 911 and went outside, where he saw Gipson. She'd also been at the post office two days prior. The pair bolted, but Hawkins followed. He stayed on the phone with police and informed them where the two were headed in their car. "They got them a couple streets over," Hawkins said. Gipson was booked into the Jackson County Jail on two charges of first-degree forgery and additional counts of first-degree theft, possession of a forgery instrument and conspiracy to commit theft. She is no longer listed in the jail. Nichols remains at the county's Juvenile Detention Center on charges of first-degree forgery and first-degree theft, facility officials said. Medford police said at least two more individuals are being sought and that the case is still active. "It becomes very, very useful when our employees go above and beyond the expectation and assist law enforcement in apprehending them," Melvin said. Despite the appreciation from upper management, Hawkins said he doesn't feel supported by some on the local level. A U.S. Air Force veteran of the Afghanistan War, he said he felt belittled by some co-workers for needing a few minutes to calm down and get his post-traumatic stress disorder under control after the incident. He has filed a hostile work environment complaint and may file a grievance with his union. He also has not been back to work after recently finding out his supervisor was trying to get him relocated, he said. "I'm very disgusted at the way it's been handled," Hawkins said. When he arrived back, he said he felt mocked publicly when some co-workers said he was using his PTSD as an excuse to get out of work. "I would have been fine in five or 10 minutes," he said. USPS officials declined comment on the complaint, stating the issue is a personnel matter. But they reiterated they were proud of Hawkins' actions in dealing with the fraud suspects. Despite the issue, Hawkins said he feels good about his decision to help, adding that he never felt he was in danger. "I think I did what was right. I think I'd like to see a lot more people do maybe the things I did. ...," he said. "We can't just rely on our local law enforcement. We've got to be there to help them." Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 29, 2014 @ 5:32 pm Updated Oct 29, 2014 at 6:02 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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