WINNIPEG — News that two Winnipeg Police officers will not face charges for their handling of 15 year old Tina Fontaine, shortly before her death, came as another blow to her family.
Great-aunt Thelma Favel raised Fontaine from the age of 4.
“I can’t believe they won’t be charged,” said an emotional Favel from her home near Powerview, “Their job is to protect us, they didn’t protect my Tina.”
Fontaine was reported missing from her foster home on July 31, 2014. On August 8th two Winnipeg police officers found her in a vehicle during a traffic stop, but let her go. Police brass later acknowledged that as a ward of Child and Family Services who had been reported missing, she should have been taken into custody.
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“I think about her everyday, everyday,” said Favel, “I’m so mad they let her go.”
WATCH: Tina Fontaine’s great-aunt talks about the loss
24 hours later, Fontaine disappeared and was later found in the Red River. Police are treating her death as a homicide; no suspects have been arrested. Police Chief Devon Clunis later revealed that he was made aware in September of the officers’ role in the case and began an internal investigation.
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Provincial prosecutors decided in December that the officers wouldn’t be charged under the Criminal Code or Child and Family Services Act, but that was only just revealed Tuesday in a news release emailed to media late in the day. No senior officers were made available to answer questions, and a request to interview Clunis Wednesday was denied.
Global News has learned the suspended officer, Cornelis Brock Jansen had been on the force for 8 years and was a field training officer, the other officer was a new recruit.
“The officers were removed from active duty in October and placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of that investigation,” the Tuesday news release said.
The field training officer, a member for 8 years, was suspended without pay and the rookie officer was put on administrative leave with pay
“It’s very unusual for a member that has not been charged criminally to be placed on suspension without pay,” Moe Sabourin with the Winnipeg police union tells Global News.
The police union says it plans to fight for the officers to get their jobs back. If they grieve the suspension of the more senior officer and lose, the officer will be fired.
“They contributed to my Tina dying, they could have prevented her death,” said a tearful Favel.
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