The Salem City Council voted on January 7, 2024, to revoke the appointments of Kyle Hedquist to the Community Police Review Board and the Civil Service Commission, responding to significant public outcry. Hedquist, who was convicted of murdering 19-year-old Nikki Thrasher in 1995, had faced intense scrutiny after being appointed to these advisory boards despite his criminal record.
The council’s decision, which passed with a vote of 6 to 2, rectified a controversial 5 to 4 vote on December 8 that had reappointed Hedquist to key public safety roles. This reappointment occurred despite a recommendation from the Boards and Commissions Appointments Committee to leave the police review board position vacant due to concerns over Hedquist’s past.
Hedquist’s conviction stemmed from a case in which he feared that Thrasher would report him to authorities for hiding stolen property at her home. After serving nearly 28 years in prison, his sentence was commuted by former Governor Kate Brown based on claims of rehabilitation and good behavior. Following his release, Hedquist became a policy associate for the Oregon Justice Resource Center and advocated for criminal justice reform at the state legislature.
The council’s decision to revoke Hedquist’s appointments came after city staff acknowledged that no background checks had been conducted on members of the boards and commissions. As a result, council members were not made aware of Hedquist’s criminal history prior to his reappointment. Meeting records indicated a lack of guidance on which criminal convictions could disqualify applicants or how much time should pass after a conviction before considering a candidate for sensitive public safety roles.
Public backlash intensified after the December vote, leading to strong reactions from the Salem Police Employees Union and Salem Professional Fire Fighters Local 314. The unions criticized the council for what they termed a “credibility crisis” in appointing a convicted murderer to boards that advise police and fire department leadership, launching a campaign urging residents to contact council members.
During the January 7 meeting, residents expressed their concerns passionately. Councilor Deanna Gwyn stated that she would have opposed Hedquist’s appointment had she known of his past. At the meeting, Hedquist addressed the council, emotionally recounting the weight of his actions and his efforts toward rehabilitation. He expressed remorse for Thrasher’s death, saying, “For 11,364 days, I have carried the weight of the worst decision of my life.” His wife also spoke, revealing that their family had received death threats after the controversy gained national attention.
The meeting highlighted the deep divisions within the community regarding issues of rehabilitation and public safety. Councilor Vanessa Nordyke, who initially supported Hedquist’s reappointment, later called for a reassessment after hearing from community members and unions. She acknowledged her error in judgment and expressed a desire to have considered public testimony before the December vote.
In response to the outcry, the council implemented new rules governing the appointment process for advisory boards. The updated standards now require all applicants for the Community Police Review Board and the Civil Service Commission to undergo criminal background checks. Anyone convicted of a violent felony is automatically disqualified from serving on these boards.
Additionally, the council decided to reserve at least one seat on the Community Police Review Board for someone with personal experience as a victim of a felony crime, aiming to ensure that victim perspectives are represented in police oversight. The new measures also expanded background check requirements to all city boards and commissions, aligning them with the vetting process required for other city employees and volunteers.
Following the council’s action, Mayor Julie Hoy, who opposed Hedquist’s reappointment and supported revoking it, emphasized that her decisions were based on governance and public trust rather than political motivations. In a statement, she noted, “My vote was based on process, governance, and public trust, not ideology or personalities.”
The controversy surrounding Hedquist’s appointment and subsequent removal has sparked a broader conversation about the standards and processes involved in appointing individuals to positions that oversee public safety in Salem.
