The search is on for a retired Los Angeles County sheriff who disappeared earlier this week after hiking on the Greek island of Armogos.
Albert Calibet, 59, was last seen walking on Armogos on Tuesday afternoon, according to a social media post from Amorgos authorities. He was following a route from the Asphontylite area toward Katapola when he disappeared, Amorgos officials said.
A State Department spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News on Thursday that it was aware of reports of Calibet’s disappearance and would “work closely with local authorities as they conduct their search efforts.”
“The Greek Missing Persons Alert Program has issued a notice on this case,” the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.
The exact circumstances of his disappearance were unclear.
Calliope Despotidi, deputy mayor of Amorgos, told the Greek reporter that “Calibet is well known on the island” and that “he has been visiting for several years.”
The LA County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement Thursday that Calibet was an experienced hiker and offered to support his family as authorities try to track him down.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Calibet’s family and friends and our hope is that we can bring him home safely,” said LA County Sheriff Robert Luna. “We are actively working with multiple agencies abroad to assist in the search for Deputy Calibet and will use all available resources to return him to those who love him.”
Municipality of Amorgos | Facebook
The department said the homicide bureau would handle the case locally, while Greek authorities would conduct a search and rescue operation.
Calibet joined the sheriff’s department in April 1998. He formally retired in 2018 but continued to work with the department as a part-time employee to help with the agency’s staffing shortages, according to LASD.
On Sunday the body of Dr. Michael Mosley, a British television presenter, was found on the Greek island of Symi, four days after he also went missing while out for a walk. His wife told the Associated Press that he took the wrong route and collapsed. According to BBC News, Greek police said an initial post-mortem examination found no injuries that could have caused his death, and initially attributed this to natural causes.
