Mellor resignation made official

One portion of a sexual assault case that rocked Hamilton police came to an end Monday. It led to a resignation. The man who once ran the Hamilton police human trafficking unit is no longer a police officer.

Derek Mellor’s resignation went into effect Monday. He quit after pleading guilty to inappropriate sexual relationships with the people he was sworn to protect.

There was a hearing set for Monday morning but Mellor was not there; it was mostly a formality because Mellor is no longer an officer as of today. The Police Services Act has no jurisdiction. So today, all charges were stayed. The province’s Special Investigations Unit is still looking into sex assault allegations against Mellor.

The 15-year veteran of the force pleaded guilty to nine of 13 charges — most relating to having sex and sending sexualized messages and photos to women who were involved in the human trafficking investigations Mellor was conducting. There was also an incident in 2000 with a witness in a domestic assault case.

Police first started looking into Mellor’s behaviour when his then partner Dave Hartless came forward with complaints he’d heard from a number of women about inappropriate advances by Mellor. Hartless has been disciplined for not coming forward sooner. Today, Mellor’s lawyer said the court would have heard a lot more about Hartless had the charges gone ahead. But he wouldn’t elaborate on those comments.

Also at the hearing Monday morning was a woman who started a petition to have Mellor fired. Shabeen Ahmad says she’s glad he won’t be back as a police officer: “It made me furious that after all the charges he was thinking and hoping he could stay on as a police officer. I had to do something to raise awareness, at least let people know this is happening, what he wants and it’s not ok. The very people he’s supposed to be protecting, and the allegations he’s supposed to be investigating, he just turns around and takes advantage of his power. The authority and control he has. That was terrifying.”

Leo Kinahan is Mellor’s lawyer: “It’s been very difficult on him. it would be difficult on anybody. He had a career here. He resigned from it. He’s been the subject of intense media. That sums it up. Is he remorseful? Of course, he pleaded guilty. It was bad judgement on his part and that’s it.”

The position of human trafficking detective was created in July 2011 after a 160 thousand dollar provincial grant, and it was given to Mellor. But a year and a half later, in December 2012, he was suspended.

People who have been watching this case, including those who help sex trade workers, were wondering why Mellor suddenly gave up his fight to remain a police officer and resigned. The police union told me there is nothing particular about Mellor’s 15 year tenure that would change the amount of pension he qualifies for. Mellor’s lawyer said he just wanted to move on with his life, and this was the day previously scheduled for the disciplinary hearing.