Calgary police moving away from large ground presence in search for missing boy Parker

Calgary police say the large-scale ground search for 11-year-old Parker, who has been missing for 12 days, is being changed.

Parker, who is autistic and non-verbal, has been missing since he walked away from his daycare home in the city’s Thorncliffe neighbourhood on July 16. Police have not released his last name and said they don’t suspect foul play.

Calgary police Chief Katie McLellan says the force is now focusing its investigation on reviewing evidence, following tips and pursuing new leads. A full search could be revived if new findings require it.

“The reality that Parker remains missing is difficult for all of us,” McLellan told reporters. “We’re not giving up.”

Police did not describe the change in approach as “scaling back” — repeatedly deflecting questions about the number of officers searching now compared to two weeks ago.

But Acting Staff Sgt. Scott Guterson says the force is “satisfied” the area of Thorncliffe has been adequately searched — both by members of the public and the police. The search of Nose Hill Park has also ended.

“We don’t search for the sake of searching,” said Guterson, adding people are still encouraged to send in tips and other information about Parker.

“Rather than searching a general area, we’re allowing the investigation to point where those specific pinpoint searches ought to happen.”

Guterson said police hope Parker is still alive. “But realistically every day that goes by makes that hope less likely, so we continue to ask the public for help.”

Hundreds of officers and volunteers have searched for the boy — on the ground and by air, in bodies of water and by knocking on doors. Residents were asked to check backyards, sheds, garages and under decks.

Information provided by Parker’s family about his interests and behaviours helped guide some of the search. Officers played Parker’s favourite Disney songs from patrol vehicles to try to draw him out.

The search was complicated by Parker’s neurological condition. Police cautioned he could become scared if confronted by strangers. They asked members of the public not to approach the boy if they spotted him but to instead follow him and call police.

Maps of search efforts

Inside the force’s tactical operations centre, a series of coloured maps outline areas of the city that searchers covered again and again in the search for Parker.

“We are very frustrated,” said Sgt. Rich Wall, adding officers spent more than 5,500 hours looking for the boy.

“Our areas of realistic search had been exhausted, but we are still carrying on. This is not the end,” he said.

“This is a jigsaw puzzle and we’re looking for the last little pieces to make the full picture.”

Wall added that the public shouldn’t underestimate Parker. “We know he has autism. But physically he is well, and he can walk far and fast.”

Last seen on CCTV

Parker is seen on CCTV around noon on July 16 — the last video clip of him.

“The last time we have him is in the 5500 block of Travis Crescent,” said Guterson. “And then that is it.

“There were other cameras in the area that spotted him prior to that. None of those cameras pick him up afterwards. Which again speaks to the frustrating nature in why this is so deeply concerning.”

Calgary police say tens of thousands of CCTV clips from more than 650 sources were reviewed.

Guterson says there were no “obviously suspicious” vehicles in those clips.

False report, AI

The search galvanized the public but also exposed problems with public participation in the age of social media.

Police waded through hundreds of tips and said they were slowed down by altered images and videos created with artificial intelligence claiming to show Parker or provide information about his whereabouts.

One false report said the boy had been found dead, and a fraudulent GoFundMe page was also started.

The search also raised questions about how to alert the public when vulnerable children disappear. Amber Alerts are broadcast for children who are abducted and in serious danger.

In Parker’s case, an Amber Alert was issued as a special exemption on the second day of the search.

A group of mothers have started petitions to urge officials to launch similar broad outreach emergency messages for categories including neurodivergent children.