A 15-year veteran with Hamilton police has been charged with fraud.

Jason Howard, a Division Three sergeant, was arrested on April 17 after an investigation into fraudulent submissions of benefit claims, police said in a release.

Howard, 43, of St. Catharines, is charged with fraud under $5,000. He has been suspended with pay.

He will appear in court on May 20.

Should cops charged with offences be suspended without pay?