A public online petition with nearly 700 signatures calling for the dismissal of Hamilton police officer Derek Mellor will be handed in person to Chief Glenn De Caire Tuesday morning.

At least that's what Hamilton's Shabeeh Ahmad is hoping to do when she is at Central Station on King William St. at 9 a.m., one hour before the police act sentencing hearing begins for Mellor.

Ahmad, who has worked with women's agencies, initiated the petition after learning about what Mellor had admitted to doing as leader of the police service's first human trafficking initiative, called Project Rescue.

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

Mellor has been suspended from duty since he was charged in December 2012. He faced 13 charges and has pleaded guilty to nine.

"I was shocked that after all he has pleaded guilty to doing, all the women he has victimized, the scars he is leaving behind, that he still wants to stay — it's terrifying," said Ahmad.

She said many signatories to the petition have included comments expressing how strongly they feel Mellor should never again wear a badge.

The investigative probe into Mellor began in 2012 after a 19-year-old former sex worker, who was a witness in a human-trafficking case, accused him of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with her.

Two counts of corrupt practice and breach of duty have been withdrawn by the prosecutor and two counts were adjourned sine die, meaning they are suspended, but can be reactivated in the future.

In February two dozen women marched from City Hall to police headquarters to protest Mellor.