Former deputy police commissioner Jevon McSkimming used police-funded hotels during his affair.
A Tuesday report from the Independent Police Conduct Authority found that McSkimming violated the police code of conduct by repeatedly inviting a woman to stay with him in taxpayer-funded accommodation in 2016 and 2017.
The IPCA determined that McSkimming’s use of police-funded hotel accommodations to advance a clandestine affair discredited the organisation.
McSkimming is serving nine months’ home detention after child sexual exploitation and bestiality material was discovered on his work devices.
These materials were found during an investigation into McSkimming’s alleged sexual offending against Ms Z, a former police employee with whom he had an affair.
The latest IPCA report noted that McSkimming worked at Police National Headquarters in Wellington in 2016 and 2017, about 60-70 km from his home.
For late meetings or early flights, McSkimming’s executive assistant booked him police-paid hotel stays.
According to the report: “The rationale for these bookings was explained to us as being to avoid a long drive home after a work event or where he was required to attend a social function to ensure he was not having a drink and then driving.”
McSkimming told the IPCA that Ms Z “probably stayed with me eight or 10 times.”
The IPCA found McSkimming violated police policy by not disclosing to the approving senior manager that Ms Z would stay with him.
“If he had paid for the hotels himself, that would have been a different matter. However, the fact that the hotels were paid for by police gives rise to the perception that he was using taxpayer money to further a clandestine affair, thus bringing police into disrepute.”
The IPCA noted that police travel policy at the time was “vague and unhelpful” in assessing whether McSkimming’s hotel use near his workplace was appropriate. It also said that its investigation was hindered by missing travel expenses and credit card records.
A new expenditure policy requires public spending to be reasonable, withstand parliamentary and public scrutiny, and be well-documented for any internal or external review.
After McSkimming’s April 2023 appointment as statutory deputy commissioner, Ms Z anonymously commented on the LinkedIn announcement. Z accused McSkimming of cheating on his wife and misusing taxpayer-funded hotels and police property.
Ms Z faced charges under the Harmful Digital Communications Act for sending hundreds of emails to McSkimming accusing him of sexual offending.
A subsequent damning IPCA investigation found senior officers failed to properly review or escalate Ms Z’s allegations, instead treating her emails as harassment.
The charges against her were later dropped, but she still faces charges related to emails she allegedly sent to another police detective and his wife. No charges were filed against McSkimming for sexual offending against Ms Z.