Nearly six months after his abrupt resignation, former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming of New Zealand has pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material and other illegal content while in office—a revelation that has sent shockwaves through the country’s law enforcement community and prompted urgent calls for technological reform within the police force.
On November 6, 2025, the 52-year-old McSkimming appeared at the Wellington District Court, where his lawyer entered guilty pleas to several counts of possessing objectionable material. According to reporting from AP and AFP, the illegal content, which included child sexual exploitation and bestiality material, was stored on his work-issued phone and laptop. McSkimming, who had been New Zealand’s Deputy Police Commissioner since 2023, did not speak during the hearing or comment publicly afterward.
The case, now public after the courts lifted a suppression order in August 2025, has become one of the most significant scandals to hit New Zealand’s police in recent memory. Investigations revealed that, from July 2020 through December 2024, McSkimming accessed hundreds of illegal images through Google searches. These included real, artificially generated, and cartoon depictions of child sexual abuse, as well as content involving animals. Court documents detailed that about a third of McSkimming’s internet searches during work hours over the four-and-a-half-year period under review were pornographic in nature.
New Zealand Police Commissioner Richard Chambers minced no words in his condemnation. Speaking to the press on November 6, Chambers described McSkimming’s behavior as “disgraceful and shameful,” emphasizing that it went “against the core values” of the police. He added, “I will not allow this to tarnish my staff, who are as appalled by this as I am.” Chambers also stressed the importance of accountability, stating, “The outcome shows all police, no matter their rank, are accountable to the laws that apply to us all,” according to AFP.
The investigation into McSkimming’s conduct began after a separate complaint was lodged against him by a member of the public. While the details of that initial complaint remain undisclosed, it was during this inquiry that investigators uncovered evidence of illegal internet activity on McSkimming’s part. He was suspended from his duties on full pay in December 2024, and, after spending six months on leave, resigned from his position in May 2025. He was formally arrested and charged in June 2025 with eight counts of possessing objectionable material. By November, he had admitted to three representative charges.
The revelations have led to a broader reckoning within New Zealand’s police force. According to AP, the case prompted an independent review of the security measures on police technology. A report released in the wake of the scandal urged the police to bolster their monitoring of staff internet use, upgrade filtering mechanisms for harmful content, and improve oversight of agency devices. The review’s recommendations aim to address glaring vulnerabilities that allowed a senior officer to circumvent existing controls for years.
Indeed, McSkimming himself admitted to two colleagues in March 2025 that he had found ways to bypass police computer system blocks to access sexual content. This admission, documented in court records, has raised troubling questions about the effectiveness of current safeguards and the culture of oversight within the force. The fact that such egregious behavior could go undetected for so long—especially by someone at the very top of the organization—has led to an outpouring of concern from both the public and within police ranks.
McSkimming’s career in law enforcement spanned nearly three decades. He joined the police in 1996 and rose steadily through the ranks, eventually becoming the country’s second-highest ranking officer. His fall from grace has been swift and absolute. The charges he now faces carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and he is scheduled to be sentenced in December 2025.
The scandal has also reignited debate about transparency and accountability in public service. For months, McSkimming’s identity was shielded from public view by a court-ordered suppression of his name and case details. This anonymity lapsed in August 2025, allowing the media to report fully on the case. The delay in public disclosure has been criticized by some who argue that the public has a right to know when senior officials are under investigation for serious crimes.
Meanwhile, the response from within the police has been one of collective shock and disappointment. Commissioner Chambers has repeatedly reassured the public that McSkimming’s actions do not reflect the values or conduct of the wider force. “I will not allow this to tarnish my staff, who are as appalled by this as I am,” he reiterated, according to AP. The commissioner’s statements signal a determination to restore trust and reinforce ethical standards at every level of the organization.
Law enforcement agencies across the globe have grappled with similar scandals, but the McSkimming case stands out for the seniority of the official involved and the duration over which the offending took place. The case has already sparked procedural changes and is likely to result in further reforms as the police seek to rebuild public confidence.
For now, the focus turns to the upcoming sentencing. Legal experts note that the gravity of the charges and McSkimming’s position of authority will likely be weighed heavily by the court. The outcome is expected to send a strong message about the consequences of criminal conduct by those entrusted with upholding the law.
The McSkimming affair serves as a sobering reminder that no institution is immune to abuse of power, and that robust oversight mechanisms are essential to maintaining integrity. The ongoing review of police technology and policies may not erase the damage done, but it represents a critical step toward preventing similar breaches in the future.
As New Zealand’s police force faces this moment of reckoning, the country watches closely, demanding accountability and a renewed commitment to the values that underpin public service. The sentencing of Jevon McSkimming in December may mark the end of this particular chapter, but the broader quest for institutional reform and transparency is far from over.
