It is believed to be the first time a Deputy Commissioner has been suspended.
The King’s Counsel representing McSkimming, Mike Heron, said in a statement:
“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 co-operating fully with police and looks forward to the investigation being concluded swiftly, after which he expects to resume his duties as Deputy Commissioner. Until this process is complete, he will not be making any further comment.”
Police Minister Mark Mitchell also labelled the move “appropriate”.
“As is the case for all police officers facing investigations of this nature, Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming was suspended prior to Christmas. This is appropriate,” Mitchell said in a statement.
“I will not be commenting further until the process is complete.”
The Herald understands McSkimming had been on leave from Police National Headquarters for several weeks before the investigation into him became public.
He was one of the final two candidates to replace the outgoing Andrew Coster as the Commissioner of Police, although he was overlooked in favour of Richard Chambers, who was appointed to the role last month for five years.
McSkimming remains an important figure in the police executive.
He is one of two statutory Deputy Commissioners, an appointment made by the Government, which is an important role within the constitutional framework of police and carries a safeguard of independence from the Police Commissioner.
If Chambers was to be incapacitated, for example, McSkimming or fellow statutory deputy Tania Kura would assume office until a new commissioner was appointed.
Similarly, if any allegations were made against Chambers, the pair have the independence to investigate without interference.
So the revelation that McSkimming is under investigation by the IPCA and his own staff was hugely significant.
McSkimming graduated from Police College in 1996 and spent the first 10 years of his career in frontline roles in Auckland, Southland and the West Coast.
He shifted to the Wellington district for several years in leadership positions, before moving to Police National Headquarters (PNHQ) in 2010 and rising through the ranks there.
In 2023, McSkimming was promoted to deputy commissioner on the recommendation of Chris Hipkins, who was Prime Minister at the time, following a Public Service Commission selection process.
“Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming brings a relatively unique career path within New Zealand Police,” according to a report presented by Hipkins to Cabinet.
“He has been a police officer for 27 years but, since 2010, McSkimming has used his operational skills across the organisation to shape strategy, service delivery and resolutions, financial planning, arms administration, ICT and infrastructure.”
