The search for 11-year-old Parker will shift as Calgary police said they have exhausted all possible current resources.

Since his disappearance on July 16, authorities and community volunteers have searched tirelessly, spending more than 5,000 hours searching for Parker. Now, based on operational needs, the information currently available, and the results of the search to date, investigators say they’re moving away from a physical search.

Instead, CPS Chief Katie McLellan said investigators will use new evidence to guide future searches after police completed a large-scale search of all possible areas where Parker could be.

“Our approach is changing, but our resolve to find answers for Parker and his family is not,” she said.

“We will continue to follow up on tips, re-examine evidence and pursue any new leads that emerge. If new information identifies an area requiring additional search activity, we are prepared and ready to respond.”

Currently, CPS still has hundreds of hours of videos to review, according to McLellan.

Acting Staff Sgt. Scott Guterson said police have received more than 600 tips and thoroughly investigated each one.

“We don’t search just for the sake of searching,” he said.

“We look for the investigation to lead that search.”

Scope of the search

A police-released map illustrating the scale of the search efforts included approximately 800 searchers covering 28.57 square kilometres, or 7,058 acres of land, logging more than 5,500 search hours.

The operation involved hundreds of Calgary police members, along with Calgary search and rescue, the Calgary Fire Department, RCMP, Alberta Fish and Wildlife officers, Alberta sheriffs, city crews and other agencies. 

Searchers explored residential neighbourhoods, industrial areas, manholes, businesses, Aurora Business Park, Nose Hill Park, surrounding waterways and storm drains, including the Bow River. Drones, police dogs, mounted units, UTVs, boats and helicopters were used in the search. 

According to the search operations manager, Sergeant Rich Wall, conducting search efforts to this extent and finding very little is unusual. 

“I have never seen a map like this in my 30 years of policing. This is such an intensive search in an urban area,” he said. 

“If there was more we could do, we would do it.”

Looking forward 

Police are once again urging people to check their properties, including garages, sheds, RVs, boats and under decks in search of where Parker might be hiding. They also urge people to preserve any footage of Parker in the Thorncliffe area. 

Anyone with information, no matter how small the detail, is asked to contact the police or Crime Stoppers. 

Police thanked the community for its support, appreciating all the efforts the people of Calgary have taken to help find Parker. Volunteers have left posters, easy-to-understand messages for Parker and have left out food and water in hopes he might find them. 

McLellan and her colleagues commemorate all the actions taken by the community as they continue to search for him.

“We have seen the very best of our city,” she said.