Attorney General Phil Weiser’s office
July 2020 Safe2Tell tip volume increased over July 2019, according to the monthly report released today.
In July, Safe2Tell received 573 tips, a 4 percent increase in monthly tip volume compared to the same month last year. During the 2019-2020 Safe2Tell school year that ended July 31, the program received 20,822 tips, a 7 percent decrease from 2018-19 school year due to extended school closures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As parents and students are making tentative plans for a school year unlike any they’ve encountered before due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are also facing unique challenges,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser. “We all need to be aware that students are dealing with added stressors this school year, and Safe2Tell will continue to be an available resource for reporting safety concerns.”
Suicide threats (140), welfare checks (40) and drugs (38) were the top three categories of tips reported to the program in July.
Welfare checks are usually reports that express concern about a peer. They can be suicide-related or just general concern for a peer’s safety.
False tips remain at approximately 2.5 percent of all tips submitted. False tips are those that contain untrue information and are submitted with the intent to harm, injure or bully another person.
Essi Ellis, director of Safe2Tell, said Safe2Tell will continue to be a valuable resource as parents and children look ahead to a return to school.
“We repeatedly see evidence that Safe2Tell helps address safety concerns and protect youth in our Colorado communities,” said Ellis. “As we look ahead to an uncertain school year, Safe2Tell will continue to be available to students, parents and community members to report safety concerns in and out of school.”
In July, anonymous tips from students and other individuals successfully helped protect students’ safety. For example:
• A tip was submitted to Safe2Tell regarding an inappropriate relationship between an adult and a minor. A police investigation led to multiple charges being filed against the adult involved.
The following is an example of misuse of the Safe2Tell program:
• A tip was submitted to Safe2Tell regarding a traffic complaint. These types of concerns should be reported directly to local law enforcement.
Safe2Tell is a successful violence intervention and prevention program for students to anonymously report threats to their own, and others’, safety. Safe2Tell is not an emergency response unit nor mental health counseling service provider; it is a conduit of information for distributing anonymous tips to local law enforcement and school officials, according to state law.
To make a report, individuals can call (877) 542-7233 from anywhere, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Reports also can be made at Safe2Tell.org or through the Safe2Tell mobile app, which is available on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
