A veteran Toronto police officer is being charged with sexually assaulting a woman while on duty for the second time this year.

Toronto police sergeant charged for alleged sexual assault in cruiser

Sgt. Christopher Heard has been charged following an investigation by Ontario's Special Investigations Unit, just two months after being charged with sexual assault in connection with a similar allegation against him.

The province's police watchdog alleges Heard encountered a 25 year-old woman near King Street West and Blue Jays Way early in the morning on November 1, 2015.

The SIU alleges Heard drove the woman to her residence in his police cruiser and at some point after their initial contact sexually assaulted her.

Heard is scheduled to appear in court on June 9.

In March, the SIU charged Heard with sexual assault in connection with a similar alleged incident from September 2015.

That charged involves a 27 year-old woman Heard allegedly encountered in the Wellington Street and Blue Jays Way area around 1 a.m. on Sept. 24.

The SIU alleged Heard subsequently drove the woman home in his police cruiser and sexually assaulted her along the way​.

Following the first charge, Heard was suspended from the police force with pay, which is required under the province's Police Services Act.

Heard, who has been a Toronto police officer for more than 20 years, is a father of three. In 2012, he was a member of the police's mounted unit. He also won an award for his role in an off-duty water rescue at Sharbot Lake Provincial Park.

The SIU is an arm's length agency that investigates cases that involve police where there has been death, serious injury or an allegation of sexual assault.