Photo: POOL

He was the country's second-highest ranking police officer, overseeing road policing and operational services - he was also secretly watching child sexual exploitation and bestiality on his work devices. National Crime Correspondent Sam Sherwood reports on how the 52-year-old's secret was exposed.

In early January, weeks after being suspended on full-pay amid separate investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct, then Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming released a statement through his lawyer.

The statement said McSkimming was "co-operating fully" with Police and looked forward to the investigation being concluded "swiftly".

"After which he expects to resume his duties as Deputy Commissioner."

Those expectations were soon dealt a significant blow when in March McSkimming was notified a second criminal investigation had begun relating to his use of his work devices.

Nearly two months later, after RNZ approached him for comment on allegations that objectionable material had been found on his laptop, the Public Service Commission provided McSkimming with two documents including a summary of a forensic report on the activity on his work devices as well as a pre-submission classification summary by the Deputy Chief Censor.

The accompanying letter from the Public Service Commission said a preliminary view had been reached that the information it had received from Police called into "serious question" McSkimming's fitness to remain in his position and justified consideration of whether he should be removed from office.

Three days later, on 12 May, the Police Minister in a sternly written press release announced McSkimming had resigned saying he had effectively jumped before he could be pushed. It was the end of a 29-year career.

The following month, McSkimming would be arrested on charges of possessing objectionable publications, namely child sexual exploitation and bestiality material, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the publication is objectionable. The offending occurred between July 2020 and December 2024.

On Thursday, the 52-year-old pleaded guilty to the charges. He will be sentenced in December.

With his guilty plea, RNZ takes a look at how McSkimming's career came to a shocking conclusion.

Photo: Getty Images

The rise to the top

Jevon McSkimming joined the police in 1996, beginning in Auckland with roles in the frontline, communications and maritime before moving to Southland.

"An opportunity to rewrite rural officers' work terms and conditions led to a move to Wellington, and then a transfer to the Royal New Zealand Police College to run the promotion courses for Sergeant and Senior Sergeant ranks," Police's 2023-2024 annual report said.

"As Deployment Manager for Wellington District,