The Bellingham Police Department is asking the public to help locate James McCaleb, a 79-year-old man who left his residence at noon on Saturday, July 25, and has not returned. BPD described McCaleb as a vulnerable adult with serious medical conditions who has missed doses of required medication, making the search urgent.
McCaleb is described as having gray and white hair and a full beard. He stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs approximately 275 pounds. When last seen, he was wearing a dark short-sleeved shirt, dark sweatpants, black shoes, and a Navy Veteran's baseball cap. He does not own a vehicle and gets around entirely on foot.
Where McCaleb Is Known to Walk
According to the Bellingham Police Department, McCaleb is frequently seen walking in the downtown Bellingham area and along Cornwall Avenue all the way south to Bellingham High School. Residents along that corridor, roughly from downtown toward the high school at Bill McDonald Parkway, are especially encouraged to check their yards, parking areas, and neighboring properties.
BPD noted in its public appeal that his absence is highly unusual for him. Search and rescue volunteers were deployed to assist in looking for McCaleb after he failed to return home. As of the posting on July 26, he had not been located.
Anyone who sees James McCaleb is asked to call 911 immediately rather than approach or attempt to assist on their own. When a person has missed critical medication and has documented medical conditions, time and professional response matter greatly.
Why Vulnerable Adult Cases Move Fast
Washington State law defines a vulnerable adult as any person aged 60 or older who lacks the functional, mental, or physical ability to care for themselves, or who has a developmental disability or dementia. When BPD classifies a missing person as a vulnerable adult, it triggers a heightened response that includes search and rescue coordination, faster inter-agency communication, and broader public alerts.
Missing cases involving older adults with serious medical needs are treated with the same urgency as child abduction cases in many jurisdictions. The Washington State Patrol operates the Silver Alert system for missing vulnerable adults, which can be activated when certain criteria are met. Local agencies like the City of Bellingham and the Bellingham Police Department work alongside Whatcom County Search and Rescue volunteers during active searches.
Heat and sun exposure are also a concern in late July. While Whatcom County saw some relief from the extreme heat of earlier in the month, summer afternoons in Bellingham can still be taxing for older adults walking long distances without water or shade. The Cornwall Avenue corridor McCaleb frequents is largely open and exposed during midday hours.
How Neighbors Can Help
BPD shared the best available photos of McCaleb alongside its appeal. Even if a sighting seems uncertain, dispatchers encourage callers to report it. A partial description or a general location is far more useful than silence, and dispatch can coordinate with search teams already in the field.
If you have a home security camera, a doorbell camera, or a business camera along Cornwall Avenue, Bill McDonald Parkway, or in the downtown core, reviewing recent footage could help investigators establish a timeline or last known position. You can contact the Bellingham Police Department non-emergency line at (360) 778-8800 with any tips, or call 911 if you spot McCaleb directly.
Community members near Bellingham High School, Whatcom Falls Park, or along the length of Cornwall Avenue are asked to pay particular attention. McCaleb is known to cover significant distances on foot, so the search area extends well beyond his home address.
What to Know About Search and Rescue in Whatcom County
Whatcom County Search and Rescue is a volunteer organization that responds to lost, missing, and injured persons across the county. The group trains year-round and can mobilize quickly when local law enforcement requests assistance. BPD confirmed search and rescue volunteers were already deployed in connection with this case.
For neighbors who want to support active searches or learn more about volunteering with Whatcom County emergency services, information is available through the county's emergency management division. Training opportunities exist for people who want to be part of the organized response network rather than conducting independent searches, which can sometimes interfere with coordinated efforts.
The Bellingham Police Department has not confirmed McCaleb's home address publicly, which is standard practice in vulnerable adult cases to protect privacy. However, the department has emphasized that his walking patterns center on the downtown core and the Cornwall Avenue corridor, giving the public a clear area to watch.
If you see James McCaleb, please call 911 immediately. Do not attempt to detain or transport him without law enforcement guidance, as his medical conditions require trained assessment. Every tip helps search teams narrow down where to look next.
