US EditionReappointment of Kyle Hedquist to Police Review Board Draws Criticism After Clemency Decision
- The Salem City Council voted 5-4 on Dec. 8 to reappoint Kyle Hedquist to the Community Police Review Board, despite concerns about his criminal history, which includes a conviction for killing Nikki Thrasher in 1995.
- Hedquist served nearly 30 years in prison and was released in 2022 after former Oregon Governor Kate Brown commuted his sentence.
- Several council members and unions criticized the decision, citing a lack of consistent background checks for board appointments and potential safety risks.
- After public backlash, Councilor Vanessa Nordyke reversed her support, saying concerns raised by union leaders were valid.
8 Articles
8 Articles
Convicted killer speaks out after controversy over police oversight board selection
SALEM, Ore. (KOIN) — The man at the center of a controversy in Salem is speaking out. Kyle Hedquist is a convicted murderer who is facing backlash for his appointment to a public safety committee. Hedquist shot and killed 19-year-old Nikki Thrasher in 1994 in southern Oregon; he later admitted to his crime. After nearly [...]
Blue City Appoints Murderer Of Teen Girl To Police Review Board
A convicted murderer who executed a teenage girl has been reappointed to a police oversight board in a left-leaning Oregon city, with supporters arguing he brings a valuable “perspective” to reviewing complaints against law enforcement. Kyle Hedquist, 47, was voted back onto Salem’s police review board by a narrow five-to-four City Council vote, despite having spent 27 years in prison for murder, according to the Statesman Journal. The board rev…
"Significant Safety Concerns" After Salem, Oregon Appoints Convicted Killer To Public Safety Boards
"Significant Safety Concerns" After Salem, Oregon Appoints Convicted Killer To Public Safety Boards Salem, Oregon, is facing backlash after appointing Kyle Hedquist — a convicted murderer whose sentence for a 1995 killing was later commuted — to two influential public safety bodies: the city’s Community Police Review Board and its Civil Service Commission, which oversee police conduct and public safety employment matters, according to Newser and…
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