Overview
- Reps. Debbie Dingell and Rashida Tlaib sent a Nov. 13 letter to Postmaster General David Steiner seeking details on the Nov. 8 death of Nicholas John Acker at the Detroit Network Distribution Center in Allen Park.
- The letter cites reports that Acker was found inside a mail handling machine and may have been deceased for 6–8 hours before discovery, with an alleged check-in at 11 a.m. and discovery at 12:30 p.m. the next day.
- USPS confirmed an employee’s death and offered condolences, stating the facility remains operational, while declining to provide further details during the ongoing investigation.
- The lawmakers highlighted a prior union Article 14 grievance filed more than 90 days earlier that alleged management pressured staff to search machinery while it was running.
- Acker’s fiancée says she waited outside the facility for hours before being notified, and local fire officials referred inquiries to federal authorities as forensic reviews proceed.