Backlash erupts after city council appoints police review board member with murder conviction

A arguable ballot to support a convicted Oregon slayer connected a metropolis constabulary oversight committee is present nether unit to unravel, aft constabulary and occurrence unions revealed that 2 Salem metropolis councilors are moving to reverse their enactment for the appointment.

The president of the Salem Police Employees Union said nationalist information unions are pushing to overturn the Salem City Council’s constrictive ballot to reappoint Kyle Hedquist, a convicted murderer, to the city’s Community Police Review Board.

Union President Scotty Nowning told Fox News Digital that Councilors Vanessa Nordyke and Linda Nishioka, who initially voted successful favour of the appointment, person since met with constabulary and occurrence unions arsenic the assembly reconsiders Hedquist's appointment; the assembly scheduled a peculiar gathering for Wednesday, Jan. 7, to sermon the matter, the Statesman Journal reported.

In a missive sent to the assembly pursuing the vote, Nowning called the determination "astonishing," warned it has already damaged nationalist trust, and said the national is formally invoking interaction bargaining, arguing the assignment affects officers’ moving conditions, information and assurance successful constabulary oversight.

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Kyle Hedquist is seeking different word connected the Community Police Review Board arsenic questions equine implicit his caller constabulary ride-along request. He was convicted of execution and received a condemnation commutation from erstwhile Gov. Kate Brown successful 2022. (Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

Nowning rejected characterizations of the determination arsenic offering a "second chance," noting Hedquist was convicted of aggravated murder, equipped robbery and kidnapping, each Measure 11 crimes, which helium said are "not youthful indiscretions" but convulsive offenses incompatible with constabulary oversight.

One of the councilors present backing a reversal has publically acknowledged cardinal accusation was missing erstwhile the archetypal determination was made. In a Facebook post, Nordyke said metropolis unit failed to behaviour a inheritance cheque earlier Hedquist was archetypal appointed to the Community Police Review Board successful 2024 and that she did not cognize his afloat transgression grounds astatine the time.

Nordyke, who is besides moving for mayor, said she voted to reappoint Hedquist believing the committee lacked disciplinary authority, that helium had already served without issue, and that helium had enactment from legislators and others who cited his rehabilitation and grounds earlier the Oregon legislature.

After proceeding concerns from constabulary and occurrence unions, Nordyke said she realized she should person sought broader input earlier the ballot and has instructed metropolis unit to draught a question to reconsider and region Hedquist from nationalist information boards erstwhile the assembly reconvenes. She besides called for improved vetting standards moving guardant and defended her agelong grounds of supporting constabulary and occurrence departments done wage increases, staffing expansions and national contracts.

The antheral astatine the halfway of the contention has besides spoken out. Hedquist told KOIN 6 News that helium believes helium tin lend positively to Salem contempt his convulsive past.

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Hedquist changeable and killed 19-year-old Nikki Thrasher successful confederate Oregon successful 1994 and aboriginal admitted to the crime. After serving astir 30 years successful prison, erstwhile Oregon Gov. Kate Brown commuted his beingness condemnation successful 2022, starring to his release.

"I person spent the past good implicit 30 years present trying to measure however did I get there," Hedquist told KOIN. "I deliberation astir it each day, and it’s tough."

Hedquist has said helium applied to service connected the unpaid constabulary oversight committee successful an effort to marque the metropolis safer and told KOIN helium has participated successful ride-alongs, attended constabulary briefings and interacted with officers without incident. He has besides been appointed to the city’s Civil Service Commission, which oversees occurrence section matters.

Opposition to Hedquist’s merchandise and assignment to nationalist information roles has travel from instrumentality enforcement leaders for years — good earlier the Salem City Council’s caller decision.

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In 2022, Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin sharply criticized Brown’s determination to assistance Hedquist enforcement clemency, calling the sidesplitting of Thrasher a "calculated, cold-blooded, execution-style" murder.

"I americium perfectly opposed to the Governor granting enforcement clemency to Kyle Hedquist," Hanlin wrote astatine the time, saying Hedquist admitted helium killed Thrasher to forestall her from going to police. Hanlin called the clemency determination "shocking and irresponsible" and said Brown ignored absorption from aggregate instrumentality enforcement leaders, including Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson, Douglas County District Attorney Richard Wesenberg and Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast.

Those concerns resurfaced during the Salem council’s debate, with critics arguing Hedquist should not service successful roles tied to constabulary accountability.

The Salem metropolis assembly hosts a gathering successful Loucks Auditorium astatine the Salem Public Library connected Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, successful Salem, Ore. (Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

Salem City Councilor Shane Matthews, who voted against Hedquist’s reappointment, echoed that presumption successful a erstwhile connection to Fox News Digital, informing the determination undermines nationalist information and the credibility of the constabulary reappraisal board.

"Selecting a antheral convicted of the premeditated execution of a foster miss to a committee that oversees sworn constabulary officers doesn’t service the involvement of nationalist safety," Matthews said. While helium said helium supports 2nd chances successful general, Matthews argued oversight roles request higher standards, adding the assignment risks retraumatizing victims and their families.

Clarkson has besides said Hedquist’s past crimes marque him inappropriate for constabulary oversight and stressed the request to gully a wide bound retired of respect for victims and their families.

As the aboriginal of Hedquist’s appointments hangs successful the balance, helium told KOIN helium understands the assembly could region him. "They astir surely tin instrumentality maine disconnected of each sheet if they truthful choose," Hedquist said.

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Fox News Digital reached retired to Hedquist, Nishioka, Nordyke and the Marion County District Attorney’s Office for comment.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send communicative tips to [email protected].