'Disgraceful actions': Police Commissioner urged minister to cancel Jevon McSkimming honours
'Disgraceful actions': Police Commissioner urged minister to cancel Jevon McSkimming honours
The New Zealand Police force has been rocked by one of its most significant internal scandals in recent history, centered around the fall from grace of former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. The latest development in this unfolding saga involves a direct and strongly worded intervention by current Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, who has urged the Police Minister to formally annul and cancel the long-service honours previously bestowed upon the convicted former officer. This move follows McSkimming's guilty pleas to serious charges involving the possession of child sexual exploitation and bestiality material, marking a definitive effort by the current leadership to distance the institution from the "disgraceful actions" of its former high-ranking official.
The "disgraceful actions" of Jevon McSkimming refer to his criminal convictions for possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material, along with findings of serious misconduct involving the misuse of police resources to facilitate a clandestine affair. Following his guilty pleas in late 2025, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers wrote to Minister Mark Mitchell recommending the cancellation of McSkimming's Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and subsequent clasps, stating that his retention of these honours was "untenable" given the nature of his crimes. The medals were subsequently returned to the police and destroyed, signaling a clear stance on integrity and accountability within the force.
The Fall of a High-Ranking Officer
Jevon McSkimming was once considered a rising star within the New Zealand Police, a man whose career trajectory seemed destined for the very top. Having joined the force in 1996, he rose through the ranks with apparent distinction, eventually being appointed as Deputy Commissioner in 2020. At one point, he was even regarded as a frontrunner to succeed as the next Police Commissioner. However, this public image of a dedicated public servant masked a darker reality that would eventually lead to his complete professional and personal ruin.
The investigation into McSkimming's conduct began not as a direct pursuit of his digital crimes, but as a result of complaints regarding his behavior during a promotion process. These complaints triggered a deeper look into his activities, eventually revealing that he had been using work-issued devices to access and store thousands of objectionable images. The scale of the offending was shocking: investigators found nearly 3,000 images, including child sexual abuse material and depictions of bestiality, accessed over a period of more than four years.
Commissioner Chambers Takes a Stand
Following McSkimming's guilty pleas in the Wellington District Court in November 2025, the new Police Commissioner, Richard Chambers, took immediate steps to address the damage done to the reputation of the police. Chambers' letter to Police Minister Mark Mitchell was unambiguous. He described McSkimming's actions as "disgraceful" and argued that allowing him to retain his Long Service and Good Conduct (LSGC) medal and subsequent clasps would be an affront to the values of the organization and the community it serves.
The LSGC medal is a symbol of more than just time served; it requires that an officer's character and conduct be of a "good standard to warrant the award." Chambers pointed out that McSkimming's criminal behavior, much of which occurred while he held the rank of Deputy Commissioner, fundamentally disqualified him from holding such honours. By recommending the annulment and physical destruction of the medals, Chambers sent a powerful message to both the public and the rank-and-file officers about the expected standards of integrity at the highest levels of leadership.
The Investigation and the 'Ms Z' Scandal
The McSkimming case is inextricably linked to the treatment of a woman known in reports as 'Ms Z.' Their relationship began in 2016 when McSkimming was 40 and Ms Z was a 21-year-old unsworn staff member. When the relationship ended, Ms Z made multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against McSkimming. However, a damning report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) found that senior police leadership at the time chose to believe McSkimming's narrative that he was being harassed by a "fixated" former lover.
Instead of investigating the senior officer, the police launched an investigation into Ms Z, eventually charging her under the Harmful Digital Communications Act. The IPCA later characterized the police response as an "unquestioning acceptance of Mr McSkimming's narrative" and a failure of proper process. It was only during the investigation into Ms Z's claims that McSkimming's own criminal activities came to light. The reversal of fortunes—where the accuser was prosecuted while the perpetrator was protected—has become a central point of criticism for the New Zealand Police culture.
| Event Category | Details of the McSkimming Case |
|---|---|
| Criminal Charges | Three representative charges of possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material. |
| Sentencing Outcome | Nine months of home detention; avoided the child sex offender registry. |
| Honours Revoked | Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and 21/28-year clasps cancelled and destroyed. |
| Misconduct Findings | Misuse of police hotels for a clandestine affair and failure to disclose conflicts of interest. |
| Institutional Impact | Creation of an Inspector General of Police to oversee future senior-level investigations. |
Systemic Failures and the 'Protection of Power'
The IPCA report, a 135-page document released in late 2025, detailed what it described as "significant failings" at the highest levels of the police executive. The report alleged that former Commissioner Andrew Coster and other senior leaders had not only ignored credible allegations but had potentially attempted to influence investigations to protect McSkimming's chances of becoming the next Commissioner. This "wrongful protection of power" has sparked a national conversation about the culture within the police and the need for greater external oversight.
The failure to disclose McSkimming's history to the Public Service Commission during appointment processes was highlighted as a critical breakdown in probity checks. Sir Brian Roche, the Public Service Commissioner, described the situation as a "wake-up call" and has since implemented more rigorous disclosure requirements for senior public sector appointments. The case illustrates how easily internal loyalty can supersede public duty, even in an organization tasked with upholding the law.
Taxpayer Funds and Clandestine Affairs
Beyond the criminal charges, McSkimming's conduct involved the direct misuse of taxpayer resources. Investigations revealed that he had invited Ms Z to stay with him in police-funded hotel accommodation on multiple occasions, primarily in 2016. McSkimming admitted that Ms Z stayed with him eight to ten times in Wellington hotels while he was there on official business. He failed to inform his managers of this arrangement, a clear breach of the Police Code of Conduct.
In mid-2026, Commissioner Chambers continued his pursuit of accountability by demanding that McSkimming reimburse the police for these hotel stays. McSkimming eventually paid back $500, a figure he calculated himself. While the amount was relatively small, the principle was significant. Chambers stated that ensuring funds are repaid is vital for reassuring the public that standards are being adhered to and that public money is not being used to facilitate clandestine personal activities.
Impact on Public Trust and Police Culture
The fallout from the McSkimming case has had a chilling effect on public trust, particularly among survivors of sexual violence. The fact that a man who reached the second-highest rank in the police was actively seeking out material depicting the abuse of children while simultaneously overseeing those who investigate such crimes is a profound betrayal. Victim advocates have been vocal in their criticism, calling the initial protection of McSkimming "atrocious on every level."
The case has also highlighted issues with whistleblower protection within the force. Ms Z's experience—being undermined, having her motives questioned, and ultimately being prosecuted for speaking out—serves as a deterrent to others who might see misconduct in high places. The government's decision to appoint an Inspector General of Police is a direct response to these concerns, intended to ensure that future complaints against senior officers are handled with impartiality and without the interference of their peers.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing Controversy
McSkimming's sentencing in November 2025 was met with mixed reactions. He received nine months of home detention after his lawyer argued that he suffered from a "compulsive and irrational addiction" to pornography that had overwhelmed him. The judge granted discounts for his early guilty plea, remorse, and previous good character, bringing the sentence down from a starting point of three years' imprisonment to a level where home detention was a legal option.
Controversially, the judge opted not to place McSkimming on the child sex offender registry, citing a low risk of reoffending. This decision was met with anger by many who felt that his position of power should have been an aggravating factor, not a reason for leniency. The prosecution had argued that McSkimming's access to child abuse material perpetuated real harm to real victims, and that his use of a police-issued device during work hours was a severe breach of community trust.
Conclusion
The saga of Jevon McSkimming serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in even the most trusted institutions. The 'disgraceful actions' of one man, compounded by the institutional failures of those who sought to protect him, have left a lasting scar on the New Zealand Police. However, the decisive actions of Commissioner Richard Chambers in revoking McSkimming's honours and demanding restitution mark the beginning of a necessary process of reform. As the country moves toward a new era of police oversight with the appointment of an Inspector General, the focus remains on ensuring that integrity is not just a value on a page, but a standard lived at every level of the force.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why were Jevon McSkimming's honours cancelled?
A1: They were cancelled because McSkimming's criminal convictions for possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material meant his conduct no longer met the "good standard" required for the Long Service and Good Conduct award.
Q2: Who recommended the cancellation of the medals?
A2: Police Commissioner Richard Chambers wrote a formal letter to Police Minister Mark Mitchell recommending the cancellation and annulment of the honours.
Q3: What happened to the physical medals?
A3: Following the Minister's approval, the medals and clasps were returned to the New Zealand Police, where they were collected and destroyed.
Q4: How many years of service did McSkimming have?
A4: McSkimming joined the police in 1996 and had completed over 28 years of service, as evidenced by his 21-year and 28-year clasps.
Q5: What was the result of the IPCA investigation into the police response?
A5: The IPCA found "significant failings" and serious misconduct among senior police leaders who prioritised McSkimming's career over investigating complaints of sexual misconduct made against him.
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