Salem council reconsiders convicted killer Kyle Hedquist’s place on police board

A controversial vote to maintain a convicted Oregon assassin on a metropolis police oversight board is now beneath strain to unravel after police and hearth officers revealed that two Salem metropolis council members are working to reverse their help for the appointment.

The president of the Salem Police Staff Union mentioned public security unions are pushing to overturn the Salem Metropolis Council’s restricted vote to reappoint Kyle Hedquist, a convicted assassin, to the town’s Neighborhood Police Assessment Board.

Union President Scotty Nowning advised Fox Information Digital that council members Vanessa Nordyke and Linda Nishioka, who initially voted in favor of the appointment, have since met with the police and hearth departments because the council reconsiders Hedquist’s appointment; the council scheduled a particular assembly for Wednesday, Jan. 7, to debate the matter This is reported by Statesman Journal.

In a letter despatched to the council after the vote, Nowning known as the choice “astounding,” warned it has already broken public belief, and mentioned the union is formally interesting for affect negotiations, arguing the appointment impacts officers’ working circumstances, security and confidence in police oversight.

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Kyle Hedquist is looking for one other time period on the Neighborhood Police Assessment Board as questions come up about his latest request for a police ride-along. He was convicted of homicide and obtained a diminished sentence in 2022 from former Governor Kate Brown. (Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal/USA At this time Community by way of Imagn Photographs)

Nowning rejected the characterization of the choice as providing a “second probability,” noting that Hedquist was convicted of aggravated homicide, armed theft and kidnapping, all Measure 11 crimes, which he mentioned are “not juvenile indiscretions” however crimes of violence incompatible with police oversight.

One of many council members now supporting a reversal has publicly acknowledged that necessary data was lacking when the unique choice was made. In a Fb put up, Nordyke mentioned metropolis workers didn’t conduct a background test earlier than Hedquist was first appointed to the Neighborhood Police Assessment Board in 2024 and didn’t know his full legal document on the time.

Nordyke, who can also be working for mayor, mentioned she voted to reappoint Hedquist as a result of she believed the board had no disciplinary authority, that he had already served with out situation and that he had help from lawmakers and others who cited his rehabilitation and testimony earlier than the Oregon Legislature.

After listening to considerations from police and hearth officers, Nordyke mentioned she realized she ought to have requested for broader enter earlier than the vote and has directed metropolis workers to draft a movement to rethink and take away Hedquist from the general public security boards when the council subsequent meets. She additionally known as for higher auditing requirements and defended her lengthy document of supporting police and firefighters via pay will increase, workforce enlargement and union contracts.

The person on the heart of the controversy has additionally spoken out. Hedquist told KOIN 6 News that he believes he could make a constructive contribution to Salem regardless of his violent previous.

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Hedquist fatally shot 19-year-old Nikki Thrasher in southern Oregon in 1994 and later admitted to the crime. After serving almost 30 years in jail, former Oregon Governor Kate Brown commuted his life sentence in 2022, resulting in his launch.

“I’ve spent the final 30-plus years making an attempt to judge how I bought there,” Hedquist advised KOIN. “I give it some thought day-after-day, and it is onerous.”

Hedquist has mentioned he has utilized to serve on the volunteer police oversight board in an effort to make the town safer and advised KOIN he has participated in ride-alongs, attended police briefings and labored with officers with out incident. He has additionally been appointed to the town’s Civil Service Fee, which oversees hearth division issues.

There was opposition to Hedquist’s launch and the appointment to public security positions of legislation enforcement company leaders for years — lengthy earlier than the Salem Metropolis Council’s latest choice.

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In 2022, Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin sharply criticized Brown’s choice to grant Hedquist clemency, calling Thrasher’s homicide a “calculated, cold-blooded, execution-style” homicide.

“I’m completely against Governor granting clemency to Kyle Hedquist,” Hanlin wrote on the time, saying Hedquist admitted to killing Thrasher to forestall her from going to the police. Hanlin known as the clemency choice “stunning and irresponsible” and mentioned Brown ignored opposition from a number of legislation enforcement leaders, together with Marion County District Lawyer Paige Clarkson, Douglas County District Lawyer Richard Wesenberg and Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast.

These considerations resurfaced throughout the Salem Metropolis Council debate, with critics arguing that Hedquist shouldn’t be allowed to serve in roles associated to police accountability.

The Salem Metropolis Council will host a gathering on Monday, October 13, 2025 on the Loucks Auditorium on the Salem Public Library in Salem, Oregon. (Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal/USA At this time Community by way of Imagn Photographs)

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Salem Metropolis Councilman Shane Matthews, who voted in opposition to Hedquist’s reappointment, echoed that sentiment in an earlier assertion to Fox Information Digital, warning that the transfer undermines public security and the credibility of the police board.

“Choosing a person convicted of the first-degree homicide of a foster lady to a board that oversees sworn law enforcement officials isn’t within the curiosity of public security,” Matthews mentioned. Whereas he mentioned he helps second probabilities basically, Matthews argued that supervisory duties require increased requirements, which means the appointment dangers retraumatizing victims and their households.

Clarkson has additionally mentioned Hedquist’s previous crimes make him unfit for police oversight and emphasised the necessity to attract a transparent line out of respect for the victims and their households.

With the way forward for Hedquist’s appointments at stake, he advised KOIN he understands the council may hearth him. “They’ll definitely take me off any panel if they need,” Hedquist mentioned.

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Fox Information Digital reached out to Hedquist, Nishioka, Nordyke and the Marion County District Lawyer’s Workplace for remark.

Stepheny Value covers crime together with lacking individuals, murders and migrant crime. Ship story tricks to stepheny.worth@fox.com.