(Updated)

A cop accused of exploiting the victims of a human trafficking ring will remain a Hamilton Police Service employee for at least another four months. A hearing for Sgt. Derek Mellor — a 14-year veteran — was delayed today because his lawyer was sick.

Derek Mellor was supposed to right the wrongs inflicted on a number of female victims by a human trafficking ring here in Hamilton. Instead, he had sex, with three of them.

Mellor has already pled guilty to nine charges under the Police Services Act, had two others held in suspension, and is fighting two more in a bid to save his job:

The feeling of betrayal runs deep in Shabeeh Ahmad. She was appalled when she heard details of the charges against Mellor — and decided to do something: “There’s a lot outrage. There’s a lot of anger. And, there’s a lot of hope that the right thing will be done, and he’s gone.”

From that sense of latent outrage, came this on-line petition, through the website change.org.

Hundreds of people jumped on board immediately to support her call to have Mellor fired from the Hamilton Police Service. And many left comments that made their opinions, very clear.

“Under no circumstances should a sex offender be able to be anywhere near victims of sex crimes. The very idea of such a thing is repulsive and would represent the Hamilton police disastrously.” — said one comment.

While another person wrote:

“Police officers are paid well to uphold the law while in high risk situations, and to be a role model to the community. Derek Mellor is doing none of these things and is taking advantage of vulnerable witnesses.”

As Shabeeh arrived at police headquarters to present a copy of the petition, the case against Mellor was supposed to proceed. It did not, however — derailed by the illness of Mellor’s new lawyer Leo Kinahan.

Instead, arrangements were made for a new conference call a week from now — in which police will set a date to introduce new evidence from Mellor’s former partner in the human-trafficking case, Constable David Hartless.

After that, a full week has been set aside in November in which the prosecutor hopes to complete his case, and turn the matter over to hearing Superintendant Bob Strathdee for a decision.

That decision is not expected until at least the end of November. That means Mellor who has publicly declared that he wants to keep his job on the force will continue to collect his salary while under suspension. Last year, that salary topped out just above 100-thousand dollars.