A veteran police officer with almost two decades of service at the Hamilton Police Service is facing charges for allegedly possessing and distributing material depicting child sexual abuse and exploitation. Constable Dave Hamilton, 43, has been arrested and charged by the Halton Regional Police Service. He has been suspended without pay and is currently in custody awaiting a bail hearing in Milton, Ontario.
The charges against Hamilton pertain to incidents that reportedly occurred in Burlington, Ontario, between January 3 and 4. He is accused of possessing and sharing child sexual abuse and exploitation material, as announced by both police departments. Further updates on the case are not provided, but individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Todd Martin of the Halton police.
The Hamilton Police Association refrained from commenting on the ongoing investigation but assured that they would support the member through the process. The association’s president, Jaimi Bannon, mentioned that chiefs now have the authority to suspend officers without pay if they face serious off-duty charges that could potentially result in termination, a regulation implemented in 2024 under the Community Safety and Policing Act. Prior to this amendment, officers could only be suspended without pay upon conviction and imprisonment.
Reports reveal that Hamilton had a history of working with young people, as evidenced by his LinkedIn profile and accolades received for his contributions to youth programs. He was involved in mentoring at-risk youth at Notre Dame House and organizing extracurricular activities at a local high school. ProAction Cops and Kids acknowledged his positive impact on the youth community. However, both ProAction and the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board declined to comment, citing the ongoing police investigation.