Top cop suspended amid criminal investigation

Tuesday, 14 January 2025

Police Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming has been suspended, pending the outcome of a criminal investigation into his conduct.

Stuff reported in December that he was under scrutiny over his conduct towards a former female non-sworn police employee many years his junior.

McSkimming “is cooperating fully with Police and looks forward to the investigation being concluded swiftly, after which he expects to resume his duties as Deputy Commissioner,” his lawyer says.

One of the country’s top cops has been suspended, pending the outcome of a criminal investigation into his conduct, his lawyer has confirmed.

Stuff reported in December that Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming, who lost out on the Commissioner role to rival Richard Chambers in November, was under scrutiny over his conduct towards a former female non-sworn police employee many years his junior.

He’d been on leave for several weeks, sources said at the time.

On Tuesday, Michael Heron KC, who is acting for McSkimming, along with Linda Clark, said: “Consistent with normal police practice in this situation, Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming was suspended prior to Christmas. He remains on full pay, pending a criminal investigation. When any police officer faces an investigation of this nature, they are typically suspended from duty.

“Mr McSkimming is cooperating fully with Police and looks forward to the investigation being concluded swiftly, after which he expects to resume his duties as Deputy Commissioner,” Heron said.

“Until this process is complete, he will not be making any further comment.”

McSkimming was appointed to the statutory Deputy Commissioner role in April 2023 by the Governor-General, on the recommendation of the then Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.

On Tuesday, Police Minister Mark Mitchell said McSkimming’s suspension was “appropriate”, given the investigation he was subject to.

“I will not be commenting further until the process is complete.'

A Public Service Commission spokesperson said: “It’s not appropriate for us to comment.”

Police said while the investigation is still in progress, it is not appropriate to comment.

“We refer your other questions about Deputy Commissioner McSkimming to the Public Services Commission.“

Officials were tight-lipped about the investigation into McSkimming’s conduct when approached for comment in December by Stuff.

At the time, a police spokesperson said police were “not in a position to comment on any active investigation”, a line repeated by public sector watchdog the Public Service Commission.

Mitchell said it would be “inappropriate” to comment while “investigations are underway”.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) said the police watchdog “will not be making any comment at this time”.

According to the police’s website, McSkimming, 51, started his career as a police officer in Auckland in 1996.

Since then, he has risen through the ranks, leading “substantial change management in large complex departments”, the website says.

Before he was appointed to the statutory Deputy Commissioner role, he was an Assistant Commissioner, and prior to that the police’s Chief Information Officer.