SAFE TO TELL™ is a program that focuses on kids and the issues they face today. It was started by a group of people who realize how many tragedies could have been prevented if young people had a way to tell someone what they knew without fearing retaliation. Now, using SAFE TO TELL™, they only have to make a call to make a difference. By calling a state wide hot line, kids and anyone else can prevent a tragedy, help a teenager who's in trouble, or solve a crime.
Susan Payne is the Executive Director for the Safe2tell hotline initiative. She serves in this role as a Special Agent with the Colorado Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security.
Susan is a sixteen year veteran of the Colorado Springs Police Department. Her experience includes team leader for Hostage Crises Negotiations, FBI fugitive task force and training at the FBI Academy.
In 1999 she implemented the Colorado Springs Student Crime Stoppers with a positive emphasis in which students are encouraged to report any threat to their own safety or the safety of others. After the Columbine tragedy Susan was appointed to the Attorney General’s office to develop a statewide program to facilitate open lines of communication and collaboration between young people, law enforcement, government agencies and community groups. As the founding director of Safe2Tell™, her focus continues to be one of early intervention and prevention through education and awareness.
Susan is the primary spokesperson for the initiative and works with the board of directors to strengthen program partners, identify donors and raise public awareness for school and student safety. Due to her expertise in the field, Susan was most recently invited as one of three Colorado delegates to attend the Washington D.C. Presidential Summit on School Violence Prevention following the tragedy in Bailey Colorado. This has led to tremendous opportunities to collaborate with Colorado officials in order to ensure school safety for the youth of our state.
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