HAMILTON, ON (Rajeev Sharma) — A veteran officer with the Hamilton Police Service has been arrested and charged with multiple offences involving the possession and transmission of child sexual abuse and exploitation material. Constable Dave Hamilton, 43, a 19-year veteran of the force, was taken into custody on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, following an investigation by the Halton Regional Police Service. The charges relate to alleged offences that occurred in Burlington between January 3 and January 4 of this year.
In an immediate administrative response, the Hamilton Police Service confirmed that Constable Hamilton has been suspended without pay. This action was made possible under the 2024 Community Safety and Policing Act, which grants police chiefs the authority to suspend members without compensation if they are charged with serious off-duty offences that could lead to termination. Prior to this legislative change, such suspensions were only permitted following a criminal conviction and a sentence of imprisonment. The officer is currently being held in custody awaiting a bail hearing in Milton.
The arrest has sent shockwaves through the community, particularly given Constable Hamilton’s extensive history of working with youth. Public records and organization reports indicate that Hamilton had previously served in the school and youth office and acted as a mentor for at-risk teenagers. In 2017, he received an award from the charity ProAction Cops and Kids for his work with the “Altitude Challenge Program” at Notre Dame House, a youth shelter in downtown Hamilton. He was also known for organizing after-school sports programs at local secondary schools.
The Hamilton Police Association has stated it will not comment on the ongoing investigation but will assist the member in navigating the legal process. Both the Halton and Hamilton police services have indicated that no further updates will be provided at this time to protect the integrity of the judicial proceedings. Investigators are urging anyone with information related to this case to contact Detective Sergeant Todd Martin of the Halton Regional Police Service.
