Thank you for not airing the tape. Frankly, I was angered that you had requested the tape and feared that you would air it. As a member of the staff at 1st Presbyterian Church of Moscow I can tell you that it would have been devastating to all of us.

The wisdom that you have shown in keeping that tape off the air helps me continue to respect the way you have handled this tragedy.

Sincerely,

Rager Moore
Chancel Choir Director

Thanks.

I think you showed sensitivity to an horrific tragic situation that is not normal for most news agencies. Thank you for putting compassion back in reporting news. Thank you for thinking of people first and not ratings.

I have NEVER liked the airing of 911 audio. Some years back there were two brothers, one 9 and one younger; the mother had taken them up onto Mica Peak somewhere and the mother shot both boys and then herself. Somehow the 9 yr old survived. The local news media aired the 9 yr. old's call into authorities. Not realizing at first, I watched the piece on the TV in my kitchen. It was very unsettling to hear, and it offered NO additional 'information'. It was devestating to hear this injured, scared boy who had survived the worst kind of tragedy describing the situation and pleaing for help. The station manager definitely got a call from me that day- it just felt intrusive- and so sad for the boy that it was all on the TV! I say do not air it.

As a 911 dispatcher that worked that evening and has felt and seen the devastation this tragedy has caused - I commend your decision.

I attended Paul Bauer's memorial and looked around at all the people that gathered to celebrate his life and hoped they would never have to hear his 911 call.

While Bauer was clear, concise and his demeanor was incredible under the circumstances it doesn't speak to the man he was like the stories I heard his friends recount during the memorial service. Those should be the memories held dear - not his phone call.

Paul Bauer’s 911 call, other citizen 911 calls nor the officer’s radio traffic from that evening are going to answer the questions the media have nor will it answer the question everyone has – why.

Thank you so much for a responsible decision.

I agree completely with your decision to not air the tape and applaud your sense of community concern and decency. Thank you!

I think it was the right decision to not air the tape. It serves no journalistic purpose.
One thing did bother me, though. I thought it was unnecessary to mention that other stations decided to air the call. That just shows disrespect to the other stations. I know this business is competitive, but to imply the other stations were wrong is wrong. Just state your position and leave it at that.

I also commend your decision not to air it. Sure, it makes for "good tv" according to many these days. But the media as a whole, I do not like. I think reporters will do anything for a story, twist things around etc etc, I could go on and on, so could many others. But I'm actually very taken back by this decision, I'm impressed actually.

The only downfall to this situation, I would be willing to bet, that at some point, the tape will be leaked. If anyone other then the top senior staff member has the recording, thats one to many. It'll get leaked eventually. If not by KREM, by someone else. But I hope it doesn't. I can personally deal with hearing it, I've heard many calls like that, been to many calls of that nature. But the general public and mostly for the family, I wouldn't air it. If that man was my father, and that tape aired, I'd be on the doorstep of that newstation by 5:05pm that evening.

As a 911 dispatcher, I have never understood why 911 tapes are ever considered news. These calls are someones worst nightmare and I dont think they are for everyone to hear. It is unfortunate that 911 calls, and radio traffic are public information. I hope that you will take the same approach with the radio traffic from that deadful night, I dont think the general public needs to hear a fellow officer calling out that his partner has been shot. I wish news channels would think about the people on the other end of the calls, and the radio before allowing the entire world to hear something that was so devastating for them

I also want to thank you for taking the higher ground and not airing Paul's 911 call. Your sensitivity of holding us in higher regard than to sensationalize such a tragedy (which is all that would have been accomplished) is very much appreciated and to be commended. To air the tape would only have served to hit us again in the face with all the sadness. Nothing constructive would have been accomplished by airing it. THANK YOU, again.

I appreciate you sensitivity to a communtiy and a congregation that is still grieving for the loss of a friend. The recording has no news value whatsoever. Thank You.

Thank you for not airing the 911 call. Paul was a very good friend of mine, and knowing his health condition when I left Moscow in August, I know he would not have been able to subdue the shooter. I was able to travel for the service, and with all the other newscasts, the distress call was not necessary. We all know he did the only thing he could've done.