Former Deputy Police Commissioner Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation

Former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming has pleaded guilty to charges related to possessing material associated with child sexual exploitation and bestiality. Court documents reveal alarming details about McSkimming’s extensive viewing of objectionable material on his work devices, including more than 2,900 objectionable images.

The case has raised serious concerns about the integrity of law enforcement personnel. McSkimming, who served as the deputy commissioner and was appointed chief security officer for the police in March 2021, was responsible for implementing protective security policies. Despite this, he misused his position to access and view pornography, including highly inappropriate content.

According to a summary of facts released to RNZ, McSkimming was known to have conducted numerous Google searches on his police devices. From July 1, 2020 to December 18, 2024, he performed a total of 5,354 searches, with 1,922 classified as adult or pornographic. Notably, 368 searches were deemed “highly likely” to return objectionable content.

The investigation revealed that during work hours, approximately 7 percent of McSkimming’s internet searches were either intended to return or highly likely to return objectionable content. This consistent pattern raised alarms within the police department, leading to a thorough examination of his browsing activities.

When police analyzed selected search periods, they discovered that seven sessions contained 880 objectionable images. Of these, 812 images were related to adult bestiality, while 68 pertained to child sexual exploitation. McSkimming had clicked on around 160 of the total objectionable images that were identified during the investigation.

The police systems designed to monitor internet usage did flag some of McSkimming’s searches, but many went unnoticed due to the nature of the logging system. Alerts were only triggered when users attempted to access prohibited websites directly, not during the search phase.

In March 2025, McSkimming acknowledged to a colleague that police had discovered pornographic material on his laptop. He expressed that he had circumvented the police monitoring systems to access this content, citing a background where pornography was normalized.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers commented on the case without delving into specifics, stating his pride in the police force’s commitment to integrity and service. He emphasized that individuals who fail to uphold police values should face appropriate consequences.

The case highlights the importance of ongoing scrutiny and accountability within law enforcement, as well as the need for robust monitoring systems to prevent misuse of resources. The investigation into McSkimming’s actions continues, with sentencing yet to be determined.

For those affected by sexual violence, support services are available through organizations such as Victim Support and Rape Crisis.