Jevon McSkimming Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER
Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming resigned before he could be dismissed, following recent allegations of 'a very serious nature'.
RNZ revealed on Monday that McSkimming who had been on leave for four months after he was suspended pending a criminal investigation, had resigned.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell confirmed the resignation, with immediate effect.
McSkimming was under investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority and the New Zealand Police.
The nature of the allegations against him cannot be reported.
Deputy Commissioners of Police are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
Mitchell said McSkimming resigned on Monday, before he could be dismissed.
"I can confirm a process had been underway for the Prime Minister to consider recommending the Governor-General immediately remove the Deputy Commissioner of Police from office.
"I instructed the Public Service Commission to commence the process to remove Mr McSkimming from office after allegations of a very serious nature recently came to light, separate to the investigation that led to him being suspended."
Mitchell said the Policing Act was "very clear".
"A Deputy Commissioner of Police must be a 'fit and proper' person. They are rightly held to the highest standards of conduct and this new information called into serious question Mr McSkimming's fitness for office.
"When Mr McSkimming was invited to respond to these allegations he chose to resign. Mr McSkimming's resignation has confirmed my view that his continuation in the role was untenable.
Police advised Mitchell that their investigations into McSkimming would continue, notwithstanding his resignation.
"As the latest information remains subject to ongoing Police investigation, I am unable to provide further comment at this time."
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said he had been advised of Jevon McSkimming's resignation from his position with NZ Police.
"The criminal investigation will continue and is not affected by the resignation. I have no further comment at this stage."
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says there were no red flags raised about Jevon McSkimming when he was appointed deputy police commissioner under the previous government.
Hipkins said both the police commissioner and the public service commissioner recommended McSkimming's appointment at the time.
"Things have obviously subsequently come to light. I can't comment on those because I don't know anything of the detail of any of those, but I can say categorically none of them were raised during the appointment process," he said.
Hipkins says he hasn't been told anything about what the allegations are against McSkimming.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has not said why McSkimming resigned.
Luxon was asked multiple times by the media this afternoon for comment, but did not offer any explanation.
"I'm not going to get into any of this," said Luxon.
"The reality is I'm aware of the resignation, aware of the circumstances around it.
"We can say as much as we can say at this point... ongoing investigation, nothing further to say."
He said there will be more to say later on.
McSkimming, through his lawyer, declined to comment.
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