STRANDED: Bad job, Press

Shame on the Coeur d’Alene Press for misusing the front page of the paper to unjustly vilify the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office. The initial, poorly reported article about the stranded boaters on Lake Coeur d’Alene printed on Saturday, Aug. 20 raised more questions than it answered. The paper crassly abused the relative inexperience of the 20-year-old boater to create an attention grabbing headline in order to sell papers whilst maligning the KCSO. Why were so many pertinent details omitted from the original story? Why was there no comment from the parents on board who presumably have more experience? Even if the staff writer lacks the sagacity to ask such basic questions of the boaters, as editor, surely you should know better.

The article suggests that the KCSO dispatchers handling the calls were indifferent or less than competent and offered no assistance. This was not the case, however. In the follow-up article printed on Tuesday, Aug. 23 in Section C, it was revealed that in fact, the dispatchers acted professionally, politely, referred the boaters to a private tow company, and even encouraged them to call back, if necessary. While an unfortunate situation for the boaters, the solution to their problem was in their hands from the beginning as they were able to call a friend to tow them to safety.

The KCSO did the right thing and yet received a “black eye” on the front page of the paper on a weekend when many out-of-town visitors were here for the Ironman competition. Our Sheriff’s Office deserves better from our local paper.

JENNIFER GIROUX

Spirit Lake