Police destroy Jevon McSkimming awards after letter from Commissioner to minister

Former deputy police commissioner Jevon McSkimming (left) who resigned after objectionable material found on his work devices, and Police Commissioner Richard Chambers. Composite image by NZME

Disgraced former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming’s “Long Service and Good Conduct” medal and subsequent clasps were destroyed following a strongly worded letter from Commissioner of Police Richard Chambers.

McSkimming is currently serving nine months’ home detention for possession of child sexual exploitation and bestiality material.

In a letter to Police Minister Mark Mitchell on November 10 last year – released to Newstalk ZB under the Official Information Act – Chambers urged the minister to “use his discretion” to cancel and annul the awards.

McSkimming was awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct medal in July 2010 and received 21-year and 28-year clasps following service anniversaries in 2017 and 2024.

Chambers wrote to Mitchell, saying recent events “beg the question” of whether it was appropriate for McSkimming to retain the awards.

McSkimming pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material in the Wellington District Court, four days before the letter was sent.

Chambers wrote there was precedent for ministers to revoke medals and clasps on “character and conduct grounds”. In such cases, the commissioner has written to the recipient informing them their awards needed to be returned to police.

“In my view, Mr McSkimming’s disgraceful actions, which have resulted in his guilty pleas and convictions on representative charges, make it untenable for him to retain the LSGC medal and subsequent clasps that he was awarded,” Chambers wrote to Mitchell.

“Accordingly, it is my recommendation as commissioner that you agree to cancel and annul the LSGC medal and clasps awarded to Mr McSkimming.”

Mitchell agreed with Chambers’ call and the medals were returned to New Zealand Police.

Chambers told Newstalk ZB that, following his recommendation to the minister, the medal and clasps awarded to McSkimming were cancelled, collected and destroyed.

To be eligible for a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, a New Zealand Police employee must have completed 14 years of continuous service, and their character and conduct must be “of good standard to warrant the award” in the commissioner’s opinion.

Clasps are awarded after an additional seven years of continuous service.

A proactively released document on awards, honours and commendations stated misconduct delays eligibility for the award.

It said eligibility for the medal may be delayed if a constable was convicted in court, pleaded guilty to a disciplinary offence of misconduct or neglect of duty, or was reprimanded under a police investigation of complaints and notifiable incidents.

Azaria Howell is a multimedia reporter working from Parliament’s press gallery. She joined NZME in 2022 and became a Newstalk ZB political reporter in late 2024, with a keen interest in public service agency reform and government spending.