Police Minister Mark Mitchell is supporting the removal of Jevon McSkimming’s service medals after the former Deputy Police Commissioner accessed child sex abuse material at work.
Mitchell told Ryan Bridge on Herald NOW he will be supporting the removal of McSkimming’s honours “because I think that’s the right thing to do when you look at his behaviour”.
The disgraced public servant resigned in May after objectionable material was discovered on his work devices earlier this year.
A total of 2945 photos were determined to meet the criteria of objectionable, including child sex abuse material and bestiality material.
McSkimming pleaded guilty last week to three charges of possessing the images.
Last night, 1 News reported Police Commissioner Richard Chambers had sent a memo to staff informing them he had recommended the removal of McSkimming’s long service and conduct medal and clasps.
Chambers also offered to reissue awards signed by McSkimming during his time as the country’s second top cop.
The scandal has marked a difficult time for police as an audit uncovered several other staff had been circumventing police technology controls to access objectionable material.
Mitchell expressed his sympathy for the force, who he said “turn up to work every day” and “put everything into the force”.
He said it was necessary to sanction McSkimming’s behaviour because it “reflects badly on police”.
The former Deputy Police Commissioner had already been suspended before his resignation, having been under investigation since last December on separate allegations.
The court released further details of McSkimming’s offending to the media following his plea.
He reportedly told a co-worker “he grew up in a house where pornography was normal”.
“He also spoke with another colleague and said that over the years he had needed different types of pornography to make him feel anything, and he just kept escalating.”
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