A Salem man may not be reappointed to the city's Community Police Review Board after coming under scrutiny for his past murder conviction and commuted sentence by former Gov. Kate Brown in 2022. Kyle Hedquist joined the Community Police Review Board in 2024 out of a desire to serve Salem and bring his experience as a former "lifer" in the Oregon prison system to the position. "I can offer value," Hedquist said.
Unanimously appointed to the board by Salem City Council, Hedquist said he never shied away from his past incarceration. "I have a perspective of someone who is justice impacted with 28 years lived experience," he said in his application. "I served in leadership positions in multiple prison-based organizations."
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Hedquist served 28 years in prison for the 1995 murder of Roseburg teen Nikki Thrasher. Hedquist, then 18, said he feared Thrasher would report him to police for hiding stolen items at her home.
While in prison, Hedquist enrolled in college and worked to advocate for prison education and programming. He was among 104 people who had their sentences commuted in clemency acts by Brown. Thrasher's family, the Douglas County district attorney and Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson spoke against his release into Salem.
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"Due to an oversight, the criminal history of prior applicants has not been reviewed when considering appointments," Bennett said in a report on Oct. 6 to the Boards and Commissions Appointments Committee. Background checks conducted by the city on all current members and applicants revealed no relevant criminal history, save for Hedquist's conviction for aggravated murder and burglary.
He does seem to be reformed. Seem.
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