The disciplinary hearing for a Hamilton police sergeant who admitted to inappropriate sexual relationships with women connected to the human trafficking cases he was supposed to be investigating has been delayed.

The sentencing hearing for Sergeant Derek Mellor, who led the service's first human trafficking unit until his suspension in December 2012, was adjourned because his lawyer, Leo Kinahan, is ill.

Hamilton police lawyer Marco Visentini asked for the hearing to reconvene July 24 by teleconference to set a new date.

The hearing was scheduled to hear from Constable David Hartless, who worked on some Hamilton human trafficking cases and brought forward information about Mellor's misconduct.

Visentini said the prosecution wants to hear Hartless' testimony as soon as possible.

The rest of the hearing is set for the week of Nov. 3.

Several members of the public attended central police station, where they listened in on the teleconference hearing Tuesday morning. Among them was Shabeeh Ahmad, who gathered nearly 700 signatures on a petition calling for Mellor's dismissal.

Ahmad had hoped to hand the petition to Chief Glenn De Caire, but said she was told he is away this week. Instead, she handed it to Detective Sergeant Maggie Schoen.

Ahmad was told the petition will be given to Mellor's hearing officer to see if it can be entered as evidence for the sentencing hearing.

Mellor's police act misconduct charges include off-duty sex and sexting with women he came into professional contact with while working on Project Rescue. The women include witnesses, victims and a victim's mother.

Mellor pleaded guilty to nine of 13 initial charges. Two counts of corrupt practice and breach of duty have been withdrawn and two counts were adjourned "sine die" (suspended, but can be reactivated).

The case has sparked sharp criticism from Hamilton women's groups. In February, women protested at central station, calling for Mellor's dismissal.