For nearly two years, Sergeant Derek Mellor collected his salary and tried to hang on to his job.

He waited as police investigated his sexual relationships with women connected to his work, as he was charged under the Police Services Act and after admitting to those inappropriate relationships. The community rallied against him; put up posters; launched a petition to see him fired.

That ended Monday when it was announced Mellor has resigned.

During what was supposed to be a sentencing hearing into his disciplinary charges, police lawyer Marco Visentini broke the news. He said Chief Glenn De Caire received "an irrevocable letter of resignation" Friday.

It will take effect Nov. 3 — the day after Mellor's 15th anniversary with the service. That marker helps bolster his pension payout, although he doesn't qualify for full pension pay.

But this is not the end of the story. Mellor is still the subject of a criminal sexual assault investigation by the Special Investigations Unit, which was launched this month after the police watchdog became aware of the case through media reports.

Mellor's lawyer, Leo Kinahan, said there was "no magic in the timing" around the resignation. Nov. 3 is simply the next date the police hearing was to continue, he added.

"Enough was enough," he said, adding that it was time for Mellor and his family to put the matters behind them and "get on with his life."

What he will do is not clear. But any future police work is not likely.

Kinahan pointed out that by staying the disciplinary charges (and not completely withdrawing them) Hamilton police would have the power to reinstate them if Mellor were to begin working for another Ontario police service anytime over the next year.

Kinahan said he's had a brief conversation with the SIU, but still doesn't know the scope of the investigation, which he described as being in its "infancy."

SIU spokesperson Jasbir Brar would only say the agency's probe remains an "ongoing and active investigation."

Mellor spent much of his policing career with the vice and drug unit, including leading the service's inaugural human trafficking unit until his suspension in December 2012. This work included often one-on-one contact with vulnerable women in the sex trade.

The admitted inappropriate sexual relationships include sex and sexting with a sex trade worker who was a witness in a human trafficking case, and with the victim's mother in that same case. They also include sexting and unwanted sexual advances against other women connected to his work.

"At the end of the day this is a good outcome for our community," said Lenore Lukasik-Foss, director of the Sexual Assault Centre Hamilton and Area, one of the agencies that called for Mellor's dismissal.

She also hopes the resolution may spare the women from having to relive their ordeals.

Shabeeh Ahmad, who spearheaded the petition that called for Mellor's dismissal, was the only member of the public at the hearing on Monday.

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"I'm glad that this piece is over, but I'm hoping that this means we can move on to actual matters," she said after the proceeding. "Finding a way for our city to get together to find ways to support survivors of human trafficking"

For nearly two years during suspension Mellor collected his Hamilton police sergeant's salary — roughly $102,000 in 2013 alone according to public sector salary disclosure. This continued even after pleading guilty to nine Police Services Act charges and despite De Caire seeking his dismissal.

De Caire is among police chiefs across the province asking to change the Police Services Act to give them discretion to sometimes suspend without pay. Right now it's not an option.

Hamilton police declined comment on Mellor, citing the SIU investigation.

With Mellor's resignation, two new disciplinary charges for an alleged sexual relationship with a witness in a domestic violence case he investigated in 2000 will also be stayed.

Monday's hearing had been set to hear the evidence of Constable David Hartless, who worked with Mellor on some of the human trafficking cases. Visentini said his evidence is no longer necessary.

The disciplinary hearing will resume Nov. 3 at which time the charges will officially be stayed. Visentini said he will also make some comments.

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