Calgary rescue agencies are searching the Bow River for dead bodies
The Bow River runs low and clear around this time of the year, which is why it’s also when Calgary’s firefighters, police, and search and rescue teams work together to search for missing people.
For the fifth year in a row, a full search of the Bow has been conducted by the Calgary Police Service (CPS) and the Calgary Fire Department, and the Calgary Search and Rescue Association (CALSARA), according to a release from the Calgary Police Service.
The teams searched from the skies by helicopter as well as on the ground and in the water on Thursday, September 26. Aerial searches were also made of Elbow River Park and the Glenmore Reservoir.
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The Alberta RCMP Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Unit took the search outside of city limits, scanning the Bow River east towards the Saskatchewan border.
According to the release, there are roughly 5,000 missing persons reported to police each year, and police believe that a small number may have entered the waterways and not been able to get out.
“Although in the past four years, no remains have been recovered during this search, we continue to believe that this is a worthwhile initiative that has the potential to provide answers to the family and friends of those with missing loved ones,” said CPS Homicide Unit Staff Sergeant Martin Schiavetta in the release.
Boats and specially trained divers were on hand in case anything was found during the search.
“Should any bodies be retrieved, CPS would work with the Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the identity of the individual and ensure no criminal offence has been committed,” the release read.
The Calgary Police Service has issued no word yet on if any remains were found as a result of Thursday’s search.
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