Jevon McSkimming pleaded guilty on Thursday to possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material.
Photo: POOL
He was the country’s second-highest ranking police officer, overseeing road policing and operational services – he was also secretly watching child sexual exploitation and bestiality on his work devices. National Crime Correspondent Sam Sherwood reports on how the 52-year-old’s secret was exposed.
In early January, weeks after being suspended on full-pay amid separate investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct, then Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming released a statement through his lawyer.
The statement said McSkimming was “co-operating fully” with Police and looked forward to the investigation being concluded “swiftly”.
“After which he expects to resume his duties as Deputy Commissioner.”
Those expectations were soon dealt a significant blow when in March McSkimming was notified a second criminal investigation had begun relating to his use of his work devices.
Nearly two months later, after RNZ approached him for comment on allegations that objectionable material had been found on his laptop, the Public Service Commission provided McSkimming with two documents including a summary of a forensic report on the activity on his work devices as well as a pre-submission classification summary by the Deputy Chief Censor.
The accompanying letter from the Public Service Commission said a preliminary view had been reached that the information it had received from Police called into “serious question” McSkimming’s fitness to remain in his position and justified consideration of whether he should be removed from office.
Three days later, on 12 May, the Police Minister in a sternly written press release announced McSkimming had resigned saying he had effectively jumped before he could be pushed. It was the end of a 29-year career.
The following month, McSkimming would be arrested on charges of possessing objectionable publications, namely child sexual exploitation and bestiality material, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the publication is objectionable. The offending occurred between July 2020 and December 2024.
On Thursday, the 52-year-old pleaded guilty to the charges. He will be sentenced in December.
With his guilty plea, RNZ takes a look at how McSkimming’s career came to a shocking conclusion.
Jevon McSkimming joined police in 1997, beginning in Auckland with roles in the frontline, communications and maritime before moving to Southland.
Photo: Getty Images
The rise to the top
Jevon McSkimming joined the police in 1996, beginning in Auckland with roles in the frontline, communications and maritime before moving to Southland.
“An opportunity to rewrite rural officers’ work terms and conditions led to a move to Wellington, and then a transfer to the Royal New Zealand Police College to run the promotion courses for Sergeant and Senior Sergeant ranks,” Police’s 2023-2024 annual report said.
“As Deployment Manager for Wellington District, Jevon and his team played a key role in the model and process design for the New Zealand Police Prevention First Strategy.”
McSkimming was promoted to statutory Deputy Commissioner in 2023.
The role came with a higher pay packet and status than standard deputy commissioners.
The appointment process was run by then Police Commissioner Andrew Coster and the Public Service Commissioner. He was their unanimous recommendation to then-prime minister Chris Hipkins.
During his appointment process, it was noted he had a “relatively unique career path”.
“Since 2010 Mr McSkimming has used his operational skills across the organisation to shape strategy, service delivery and resolutions, financial planning, arms administration, ICT and infrastructure.
“In 2015 Mr McSkimming was appointed to the role of Assistant Commissioner, Chief Information Officer, and in 2017 to the role of Assistant Commissioner, Service, before being appointed to his current role of Deputy Commissioner, Strategy and Service in 2020.”
In October last year, McSkimming was interviewed for the top job – the Police Commissioner, but lost out to Richard Chambers who had long been considered the frontrunner and was favoured by frontline police.
As of late last year, McSkimming was overseeing road policing and operational services, which included strategy, media and communications, risk and assurance, and firearms regulation and reform.
Jevon McSkimming was interviewed for the top job – the Police Commissioner, but lost out to Richard Chambers.
Photo: Collage/ RNZ
The complaint
The first signs of trouble emerged in December last year when media reported McSkimming was on leave amid separate investigations by police and the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
RNZ understands the investigations related to allegations of sexual misconduct by McSkimming from a former non-sworn female police employee.
It’s understood McSkimming was placed on “special leave” as the IPCA began its investigation in November last year.
The following month, police began a criminal investigation into that allegation. McSkimming was formally suspended on 23 December.
According to court documents, sometime between December and March 2025, police began a second criminal investigation that related to McSkimming’s use of his work electronic devices that was discovered during the initial investigation.
Seemingly unaware of the investigation in January, McSkimming released the statement through his then-lawyer saying he expected to eventually return to his role.
However, on 28 March, he was informed of the nature of the second investigation, and that the Public Service Commission had also been informed.
On 1 April, his lawyer sought an assurance from Police that no further information about the second investigation would be provided to any person beyond the investigation team, given the sensitive subject matter and because details of the first investigation had been leaked to the media.
The police declined to give such an assurance, but said they were “mindful of the sensitive nature of the subject matter and of Police obligations to act lawfully and with proper purpose”.
Then, on 6 May, RNZ approached McSkimming’s lawyer for comment on allegations that objectionable material had been found on McSkimming’s work laptop.
His lawyer declined to comment.
Court documents reveal that the following day his lawyer wrote to Police, saying “you will recall I asked for your undertaking or assurance around confidentiality in respect of the investigations”. He advised of RNZ’s contact, and said the information could only have come from police, and that he would be “grateful if you could ensure that this does not happen again”.
Two days later, the Public Service Commission gave McSkimming the executive summary of the forensic report and the censor’s report which described a number of images, compared them to other publications previously classified as objectionable, and commented on whether they might be considered objectionable.
McSkimming resigned as the country’s second most powerful cop in May amid separate investigations by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) and Police.
Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
The resignation
McSkimming’s career came to an official end on 12 May when he resigned. Shortly after RNZ revealed he had quit, Police Minister Mark Mitchell released a strongly-worded statement saying McSkimming quit with immediate effect, “before he could be dismissed”.
“I can confirm a process had been underway for the Prime Minister to consider recommending the Governor-General immediately remove the Deputy Commissioner of Police from office.
“I instructed the Public Service Commission to commence the process to remove Mr McSkimming from office after allegations of a very serious nature recently came to light, separate to the investigation that led to him being suspended.”
Mitchell said the Policing Act was “very clear” that a Deputy Commissioner of Police must be a “fit and proper” person.
“They are rightly held to the highest standards of conduct and this new information called into serious question Mr McSkimming’s fitness for office.
“When Mr McSkimming was invited to respond to these allegations he chose to resign. Mr McSkimming’s resignation has confirmed my view that his continuation in the role was untenable.”
The following day, RNZ revealed that police were investigating allegedly objectionable material found on McSkimming’s work computer.
Later that week, McSkimming’s lawyer was granted a rare “superinjunction” by Justice Karen Grau that prohibited reporting that disclosed the nature of the allegedly objectionable material, as well as the existence of the injunction itself.
Following a teleconference held by Justice Gwyn, the order prohibiting publication of the nature of the allegedly objectionable material was continued – but the order prohibiting the existence of the injunction was not continued, meaning RNZ could report the fact of McSkimming’s application and the interim result.
On 3 June, a hearing was held in the High Court at Wellington before Justice Karen Grau in relation to the injunction. RNZ, NZME and Stuff were jointly represented by Robert Stewart KC.
McSkimming’s lawyer, Linda Clark, alleged information deemed “essential” to the investigation had been leaked to the media who were intending to publish the information.
In relation to public interest, she said there was already information in the media about McSkimming. She said the public interest would be served in the event he was charged and stood trial.
Justice Grau reserved her decision.
Jevon McSkimming declined to comment to media on Thursday.
Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
The arrest
Three weeks after the injunction was discussed in the High Court, McSkimming was arrested in Wellington.
It’s understood McSkimming’s lawyers approached the Wellington District Court seeking name suppression shortly before he was arrested given the media coverage at the time.
Later that day RNZ approached both Police and the Wellington District Court with inquiries about McSkimming’s arrest.
Police declined to comment, and the Wellington District Court confirmed an application had been granted prohibiting media from being able to report McSkimming’s name, identifying particulars as well as the nature of the charges he faced before his first appearance.
McSkimming, then referred to by RNZ as a “prominent New Zealander” first appeared in the Wellington District Court, via audio-visual link on 3 July. He was remanded on bail without plea until 4 August.
Before McSkimming could have his second appearance, Justice Grau released her judgment dismissing his application to prevent the media from reporting that child sexual exploitation and bestiality material had allegedly been found on his work devices.
Following the revelations Chambers emailed staff.
In the email, seen by RNZ, Chambers addressed the media reports “in relation to an individual”.
“I am aware that there are many who are angry and feel let down. I feel the same.
“It is important to let you know at this point I am unable to comment on the matter, but I do intend to do so when I am able to.
“As I have said before, I have high expectations of all Police staff and will act if standards are not met, irrespective of rank or role.
“These are the actions of an individual, and I will do my best not to let it distract from the job we are all here to do.
“However, I am aware there may be reactions from some that do not sit easily with you.”
RNZ spoke to several police officers after the order lapsed, each of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity.
A senior police officer told RNZ the news was “a sad time for New Zealand police”.
If the allegations were found to be true, the officer felt “he’s betrayed us all”.
Another police officer said they were “very disappointed” to hear of the allegations.
“Especially someone at that level of leadership. I hope all details of his alleged offending will be revealed as soon as possible. At police college we got a talk about how much the historic sexual abuse allegations from Rotorua tarnished our image. They would stop someone during a routine traffic stop and be told ‘just don’t rape me’ many years after the allegation came out people were still talking about it.”
A former police officer told RNZ the allegations would have a “significant impact” on frontline staff.
They had spoken to several serving police officers following the news, many of whom were “gutted”.
He said one former staffer told them McSkimming would not be welcome near a police station again, others expressed frustration at the reputational damage to police.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says McSkimming’s offending is “disgraceful”.
Photo: Mark Papalii
‘No member of police is above the law’
On 4 August, McSkimming made his second appearance in the Wellington District Court where the suppression order in relation to his charges lapsed.
After the charges were published, Chambers released a statement to media.
“The prosecution of Mr Jevon McSkimming shows no member of the Police is above the law, no matter how senior,” he said.
“Given the matter is still before the courts, I am not able to make further comment at this point.”
On Thursday, McSkimming pleaded guilty to three amended charges of possessing objectionable publications.
The summary of facts revealed that in December 2024, internet browsing activity of concern was noticed in that McSkimming’s work devices were being used to conduct Google searches of a sexual nature including using explicit terms that could return objectionable publications to the user.
McSkimming performed Google searches on his police devices, primarily his work cellphone to access pornographic and objectionable publications.
The earliest recorded search took place on 1 July, 2020, and the last recorded search was on 18 December, 2024.
There were a total of 5354 Google searches, of which 1922 were adult/pornographic searches. Of these, 64 were intended to return objectionable images while 368 of the searches were “highly likely” to return objectionable images.
The searches included AI material, including references to nude toddlers and nude nazi girl.
Other words typed included slave, abuse and extreme.
Police determined that, of all his searches on his work devices, one percent were intended to return objectionable images while seven percent would “highly likely return objectionable images”.
“As an average, seven percent of the defendant’s internet searches, during the work hours of 8.00am to 4.00pm, were either intended to return or highly likely to return objectionable content and the quantity is reasonably consistent over each day across the whole four and half years assessed.”
Across the 432 searches, a total of 2945 objectionable images were returned through Google searches to be viewed by McSkimming.
Of those searches, police selected 14 objectionable search periods to analyse.
Of the sessions analysed, seven contained objectionable material. The seven sessions returned 880 objectionable images. Of the 880, 812 images involved adult bestiality, and 68 images of child sexual exploitation material.
The remaining 2065 images are the subject of the general representative charge capturing the remaining objectionable images, about 37 percent child sexual exploitation and 63 percent bestiality.
McSkimming had clicked or tapped 48 of the 880 objectionable images that were analysed.
Police estimated McSkimming had clicked on about 160 of the 2945 images.
McSkimming made no comment to police.
When he was made aware of the police internet investigation in March 2025, he contacted a colleague and admitted to them police had found porn on his laptop.
“He said that he had found a way around the normal police systems to look at porn and that he grew up in a house where pornography was normal.”
He also told another colleague that over the years he had needed different types of pornography to “make him feel anything and it just kept escalating”.
‘I will not allow this to tarnish my staff’
Chambers released a statement following McSkimming’s guilty plea. He said McSkimming’s conduct was “disgraceful and it is right he has been held to account for it”.
“The outcome shows all police, no matter their rank, are accountable to the laws that apply to us all.
“Mr McSkimming’s behaviour was not only criminal, but goes against the core values of police. I will not allow this to tarnish my staff, who are as appalled by this as I am.
“This shameful episode has done their dedication an immense disservice.”
Chambers said from the moment he was advised about the circumstances he had taken it “seriously and acted on it”.
“As soon as I was made aware of the nature of the material found, I raised it with the Minister of Police as a conduct matter to allow him to consider Mr McSkimming’s position at the time as a statutory deputy commissioner.
“Mr McSkimming subsequently resigned from police.” He added that his conduct “has no place in police”.
In September, Police announced McSkimming would not be charged in relation to the allegations of sexual misconduct.
Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson said Police had completed its investigation into allegations against a former senior police member.
“The investigation concluded that the evidential test for prosecution had not been met, therefore no charges will be laid.
“The Solicitor General’s Prosecution Guidelines (2025) require both evidential sufficiency and public interest thresholds to be met. In this case, the evidential test was not satisfied.”
Johnson said the investigation and decision not to charge were independently reviewed by a King’s Counsel and peer reviewed by a Crown Law appointed barrister.
“The investigation was thorough and led by a Detective Superintendent. It had independent engagement throughout from the IPCA and a Crown Law appointed barrister.”
The Independent Police Conduct Authority earlier announced it was investigating allegations of misconduct by McSkimming following a complaint from a member of the public.
“This comprises oversight of a police investigation into whether there has been any criminal wrongdoing by Mr McSkimming and a review of whether there has been any related non-criminal misconduct.”
It was also conducting an investigation into if there was misconduct or neglect of duty by any other police officers or employee in the course of responding to the allegations.
Several high-ranking members of police are believed to have been interviewed as part of the investigation.
RNZ earlier revealed the final report was shown to a group of people on 24 October.
The IPCA earlier confirmed it had completed its investigation into police handling of complaints against McSkimming. Other aspects of its investigation were ongoing.
The IPCA said it was releasing its report “in confidence to a very limited audience”.
“There is no public release at this time due to ongoing Court matters.
“We will not make any further comment.”
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