Niagara cop who smuggled cheese quits before disciplinary hearing

A Niagara regional police officer facing multiple allegations of misconduct under the Police Services Act, including smuggling cheese, has resigned.

Const. Scott Heron was charged with criminal offences related to the illegal importation of goods into Canada in 2012 and was subsequently suspended from duty.

He was convicted in 2015 and sentenced to a period of incarceration and was also suspended without pay at that time, which continued until the time of his resignation, July 7. 

As CBC News reported then, the scam involved individuals jamming cases of "brick" cheese — used as a common pizza topping — into their vehicles to smuggle across the border and resell to Canadian pizzerias and restaurants. With U.S. cheese being as little as one-third the price it is in Canada, drivers are making $1,000 to $2,000 a trip, according to numerous sources.

Authorities say more than $200,000 worth of food was purchased, and sold at a profit of more than $165,000, according to a CBC investigation in 2012.

At the time a chief's complaint investigation by the Professional Standards Unit into allegations of misconduct under the Police Services Act was initiated. 

A police disciplinary tribunal was later convened however the matter was postponed pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings, at the request of the Crown attorney. 

Heron filed an appeal of his criminal convictions and sentence to the Ontario Court of Appeal but his appeal was dismissed on June 1st.

Following the end of the criminal appeal process, the police disciplinary tribunal was scheduled to reconvene. 

With his resignation earlier this month, Hearing Officer Superintendent, Stuart McDonald concluded the disciplinary proceedings on Monday with there no long reason to to hear the allegations of misconduct. 

This means he's no longer subject to the disciplinary provisions of the Police Services Act.

In October 2015, Heron was arrested for breaking the terms of his bail. 

He was allowed to remain out of custody, but was required to follow bail terms from 2012 while he awaited sentencing in November 2015.