A man convicted of the execution-style murder of a teenage girl has been reappointed to a police oversight board in Salem, Oregon, igniting a fierce debate about redemption, public safety, and the vetting of civic volunteers.
Controversial Reappointment Sparks Outcry
Kyle Hedquist, 47, will continue serving on Salem's Community Police Review Board and Civil Service Commission after the city council voted 5–4 to reinstate him on December 8. Hedquist had already served a year on the volunteer board, which reviews complaints about police conduct and suggests policy changes.
His reappointment has provoked strong opposition from law enforcement and the local prosecutor. Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson argued that Hedquist's criminal history makes him unfit for a role overseeing police. "We wouldn't put a bank robber as the president of another bank," Clarkson told local media, emphasising her belief that some past actions should render individuals unsuitable for certain future roles.
A Crime from the Past and a Governor's Clemency
In 1994, when he was 17, Hedquist murdered 18-year-old Nikki Thrasher. Prosecutors said he lured the teenager down a remote logging road and shot her in the back of the head to prevent her from reporting a series of burglaries he had committed. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
His release came in 2022 after former Oregon Governor Kate Brown commuted his sentence. Governor Brown, a Democrat, argued that because Hedquist was a juvenile at the time of the crime, he should not spend his entire life behind bars. This decision infuriated Thrasher's family and local law enforcement, with Thrasher's mother, Holly, stating she was not informed of the clemency and calling the murder "cold-blooded."
Divided Council and a Defence of Second Chances
The council vote revealed a deep split. Councilor Mai Vang, who supported Hedquist, said he "brings a perspective that most of us don't have" as someone who has been through the criminal justice system. In a Facebook post, Vang stated she believes people can change and that Hedquist's work shows he is genuine about reform.
Opposition, however, is widespread. The Salem Police Employees' Union and the Salem Professional Fire Fighters Local 314 have publicly condemned the decision. The firefighters' union even created a website urging residents to demand the council reconsider. Union president Scotty Nowning expressed concern about the city's oversight structure, suggesting the rules need changing to prevent similar appointments in future.
Hedquist, who attended the council meeting with his wife, has defended his role. He told reporters his reappointment was "routine" and noted he had already served on the board for two years and participated in police ride-alongs without issue. He stressed the board is purely advisory, making only recommendations, and that his past was not scrutinised during his initial appointment.
He now works as a policy advocate for the Oregon Justice Resource Center, which has commended his rehabilitation. The organisation stated Hedquist is "driven to help improve Salem and contribute any way he can to his city."
