Halloween decorations at a home in Brentwood are stirring up some negative attention from the post office.

Richard Beatty decorated his home for Halloween and one of the items includes a skeleton hanging from a gallows.

Beatty says his African American male carrier told him two days ago that he finds it offensive because it includes a noose. He says the postmaster then came by and told him that his mail service would be suspended until he takes it down.

Beatty says he's not taking down his decoration. He says he had to pick up his mail in person Wednesday.

"I don't see how the U.S. post office can tell me what I can and cannot do on my own property for a holiday," says Beatty. "I think that's ridiculous."
News 12 spoke to other postal workers, and they say they are allowed to refuse to deliver mail if it's a safety issue.

"Safety and service are our top priorities," says George B. Flood, a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service Northeast Area. "Letter carriers in Long Island and across the country receive extensive training and frequent work floor service talks on how to assess situations and identify hazards on a case-to-case basis at the point of delivery. Postal employees are afforded the discretion to interrupt mail delivery if they feel their physical or personal safety are at risk."

Flood says another mail carrier did deliver Beatty's mail today and that the issue is not the skeleton, but that Beatty has taken down the skeleton at times and just left up the noose.

Beatty says he takes down the skeleton when it's windy.

Flood says mail will continue to be delivered by another carrier to Beatty, but only on a day-by-day basis as is done with all other carrier routes.