Would Tina Fontaine be alive today if two police officers took her to a safe place when they had the chance?
That's a question that continues to haunt Thelma Favel, the woman who raised the girl since she was three years old.
"She was so tiny, like who in their right mind would see a child, she didn't even look 15 and for them to just let her go," wondered Favel.
The Winnipeg Police Service has commenced disciplinary proceedings against two officers who came into contact with her, in a vehicle with an impaired man.
But they let her go, even though she was reported missing at the time.
Days later her body was pulled from the Red River.
So traumatized by this latest news, Favel ended up in the hospital Tuesday.
"It just shocked me, I was hoping they'd both be fired, I was hoping they'd be charged for not doing their job,” added Favel.
Manitoba Justice reviewed the officers’ actions and is not recommending any charges under the Criminal Code or Child and Family Services Act be laid against the officers.
The head of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says he’s hopeful Police Chief Devon Clunis will make the right decision about the officers facing disciplinary action.
"He (Police Chief Clunis) provided me with the full assurance that, you know, any remedies internal to the Winnipeg Police Service would be applied in their fullest extent and I trust that he's going to move forward with an appropriate mechanism to provide redress for the family," said Grand Chief Derek Nepinak.
Nepinak didn't have kind words for Assembly of First Nation Chief Perry Bellegarde regarding comments he made Tuesday.
Bellegarde said police didn't do their job. Nepinak says Bellegarde doesn't have the complete picture and shouldn’t be critical without knowing more of the circumstances.
The Winnipeg Police Association representing the officers wonders how fair this internal discipline process is going to be, given the highly charged nature of the situation.
The association says since the crown has advised that no charges will be laid, they're not sure what the officers did wrong to warrant their possible termination.
