The Calgary Police Service (CPS) has identified several areas for improvement following a review of its search for missing 11-year-old Parker Wells. CPS says the review was undertaken internally to identify lessons learned, recognize what worked well and recommend practical improvements for future missing-person investigations, major searches and other prolonged critical incidents. The search for Wells, who went missing on July 16, became the largest missing-person response in CPS history. The findings, released on Tuesday, examined what worked well during the search and identified opportunities to strengthen future missing-person investigations and other major incidents. CPS says it did not assess individual employees or partners, nor did it reinvestigate the circumstances of Parker’s disappearance. “The review recognizes the efforts of our members, partners and the community throughout this response,” Chief Katie McLellan said in a statement. “It also challenges us to learn from the experience and identify ways we can strengthen future responses to major missing-person investigations and other prolonged critical incidents.” Police say the response demonstrated strong collaboration between investigators, search teams, partner agencies and the public. However, the scale of the operation also exposed limitations in existing systems and processes. The review noted one of the most significant challenges was managing the unprecedented volume of information generated during the investigation. According to the review, police received approximately 1,000 formal investigative tips, more than 90,000 direct messages through social media, thousands of emails and approximately 10 terabytes of closed-circuit television footage. While the information provided significant investigative value, existing systems were not designed to manage that volume efficiently during an extended critical incident. Investigators often had to merge duplicate information, determine who was responsible for following up on leads and track work across separate systems. Following the review, CPS is recommending a centralized tip-management system, improved tracking of canvasses and clearer standards for assigning and sharing information. “The goal is to improve how we support members, manage information and coordinate resources during large-scale incidents,” McLellan said. The review does not conclude that different resources, systems or processes would have changed the outcome of the investigation. Instead, it identifies ways the police service could improve coordination, information management, continuity and operational planning during future searches. Key findings The review identified several strengths during the response, including investigation-led search management, public awareness campaigns and collaboration with partner agencies. More than 800 searcher deployments were contributed during the operation, with Calgary police members and personnel from partner agencies helping with investigative, search and community engagement efforts. The review found search operations were most effective when guided by current investigative information, with findings from the field continually incorporated into the investigation. It also highlighted the importance of communications in generating leads, encouraging people to submit evidence, directing public action and countering misinformation. Media coverage, social media outreach, public appeals and community engagement helped expand awareness of Parker’s disappearance beyond Calgary. Police are recommending that strategic communications be more fully integrated into major-incident command structures, with sufficient staffing and resources to support large-scale public engagement. The response also relied on partnerships with government agencies, search-and-rescue organizations, the Missing Children Society of Canada and members of the public. Public awareness efforts included an Alberta Emergency Alert and the Missing Children Society of Canada’s Rescue platform. The review recommends clearer frameworks for public alerting, a more formalized relationship with the Missing Children Society of Canada and continued CPS involvement in discussions about future alerting tools for vulnerable missing people. Technology also played a significant role, with mapping tools, video analytics, drones and digital evidence platforms supporting search coordination and investigative decision-making. However, the scale of the operation put pressure on supporting infrastructure, server capacity, software licensing, technical support and the availability of trained users. The CPS is recommending further investment in technology readiness, training and systems that can scale up during major incidents. Need for better staffing and wellness support The prolonged operation also tested the police service’s ability to maintain staffing levels, transfer knowledge between shifts and coordinate resources over time. The review found that some support functions were expanded through individual initiative rather than formal plans for responding to a surge in demand. It recommends more structured approaches to staffing, relief planning, knowledge transfer and operational continuity. Police also identified opportunities to clarify how investigators, search managers, the Real Time Operations Centre, Major Events and Emergency Management and other incident-management functions work together. Although additional planning and logistics functions provided significant value during the response, the review found that roles and responsibilities were not always clearly understood across all groups. Member wellness was another key area identified for improvement. The review acknowledged the long hours, heavy workloads, emotionally difficult circumstances and intense public scrutiny experienced by those involved in the search. While wellness supports were available, police say future major incidents would benefit from integrating wellness into operational planning from the beginning, including proactive outreach and clearer processes for supporting members during and after an incident. The review also acknowledges that a provincial review into alerting is underway, along with findings recently released by The City of Calgary concerning the initial 911 response. The CPS said it recognizes and respects the city’s review process and responsibilities. Its own review examined the police response, including investigations, search operations, public engagement, communications, technology and partnerships. Police identified Calgary 911 as an essential partner in future policy development, training, information sharing, tip management and major-incident planning. The formal recommendations will inform future policy development, training, exercises, technology investments and operational planning. Police also acknowledged that renewed discussion of the case may be difficult for Parker’s family, members involved in the response and others in the community. Anyone affected by crime or tragedy who needs support can contact the Calgary Police Service Victim Assistance Support Team at 403-428-8398 or toll-free at 1-888-327-7828. Statement from Parker’s family Calgary police gave the family of Parker Wells the opportunity to issue a statement. It’s included below, in full: “Our family would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone who helped search for Parker. We are profoundly grateful to the first responders, search-and-rescue teams, volunteers, partner organizations, community members, and the countless individuals who gave their time, energy, and support in the hope of bringing Parker home. The overwhelming kindness and dedication shown by so many during the most heartbreaking time of our lives is something we will never forget. We also want to thank the organizations that have closely reviewed what happened and assessed the response. We appreciate the thoroughness of the evaluation and the care taken to walk us through its findings. While nothing can change what our family has endured, we are grateful for the commitment to learning from this tragedy and identifying ways to strengthen future responses for other families. As we continue to grieve the loss of Parker, we respectfully ask for privacy and understanding. We are navigating an unimaginable loss, and we appreciate our space being respected as we work toward healing. We remain deeply thankful for the compassion, support, and care shown to our family and to Parker throughout this journey.” Indigo Alert Campaign Response The Indigo Alert Campaign is a movement advocating for a new emergency broadcast alert tier for missing vulnerable individuals of any age. “Filling a systemic gap for vulnerable and missing children and adults, whether that be autism, Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities,” said campaign founder Jennifer Ball. Ball says this type of alert would prompt people to assess a missing person’s disappearance differently. “Is there a danger assessment? Can they communicate? Do they know their name? Do they know where they live?” she said. The system has not yet been adopted by the Calgary Police Service, but Chief McLellan agrees that additional measures could help locate vulnerable individuals. “Any additional alert systems that can help the public and Service have additional eyes and ears out there to locate these individuals, the better,” said McLellan. Ball, the mother of a non-verbal autistic son, is optimistic the system will eventually be implemented. “I think that it is something that everyone agrees with,” said Ball. “We got letters of support from all over.” The campaign is set to be presented to the House of Commons, calling on the federal government to establish a national emergency framework for vulnerable missing persons.
