Police Suspensions Without Pay Under Fire | Auckland News

Auckland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 30, 2026 · 1m

New Zealand Police just rolled out a major policy shift—allowing officers to be suspended without pay in far more cases, sparking heated debate. The move follows the Jevon McSkimming scandal, where a deputy commissioner stayed on full pay during a lengthy probe. Now, unpaid suspensions can occur when serious misconduct or criminal charges are suspected. The Police Association fiercely opposes it, calling it a betrayal of “innocent until proven guilty,” warning of devastating financial and mental tolls—especially since many investigations end in dismissal. While officials say the change aligns…