{"id":59318,"date":"2026-01-02T00:39:44","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T00:39:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sasquatchnewsonline.com\/?p=59318"},"modified":"2026-01-02T00:39:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T00:39:44","slug":"backpedal-after-backlash-woke-salem-city-council-may-revisit-reappointment-of-police-review-board-member-who-coldly-executed-a-teenage-girl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sasquatchnewsonline.com\/?p=59318","title":{"rendered":"BACKPEDAL AFTER BACKLASH: Woke Salem City Council May Revisit Reappointment of Police Review Board Member Who Coldly Executed a Teenage Girl"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Smiling<\/p>\n

\"Smiling
Kyle Hedquist (Oregon Department of Corrections)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Officials in Oregon City<\/span><\/span>\u00a0is now signaling it may reconsider the controversial reappointment of a police oversight board member with a past murder conviction<\/p>\n

The woke Salem City Council has appointed a convicted murderer<\/a> \u2014 a man who executed a teenage girl \u2014 to serve on the city\u2019s Police Review Board.<\/span><\/p>\n

The individual, who served time for the cold-blooded killing of a teen, is now being entrusted with reviewing police conduct, evaluating officer discipline, and shaping \u201ccommunity trust\u201d initiatives \u2014 despite having once committed one of the most violent crimes imaginable.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Kyle Hedquist, who coldly executed 19-year-old Nikki Thrasher in 1994, will now help review complaints against officers, thanks to a narrow 5-4 vote.<\/p>\n

City officials are doubling down, touting his \u201crehabilitation\u201d and claiming his criminal past offers a \u201cvaluable perspective\u201d on justice.<\/p>\n

At just 17, Hedquist shot Thrasher in the back of the head in an execution-style killing, leaving her body on a rural road to cover up a burglary.<\/p>\n

He was sentenced to life without parole for aggravated murder, plus additional time for armed robbery and kidnapping in a separate Pizza Hut heist, according to NBC16<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After 28 years behind bars, Hedquist\u2019s sentence was commuted in 2022 by former Democrat Gov. Kate Brown, who emphasized \u201csecond chances\u201d for young offenders.<\/p>\n

Initially appointed in 2024 without full background checks, Hedquist was reappointed on December 8, 2025, despite recommendations against it.<\/p>\n

Police and firefighter unions have launched campaigns against the move, warning it undermines public safety.<\/p>\n

According to the Salem Police Employees Union:<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
The Mess That Was Created<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Five Salem city councilors (Councilors Irvin Brown, Linda Nishioka, Vanessa Nordyke, Mai Vang, and Micki Varney) created a credibility crisis by appointing without vetting\u2014 and then reappointing \u2014a convicted aggravated murderer to\u00a0both\u00a0the Community Police Review Board<\/strong>, a body meant to build public trust in law enforcement accountability,\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0Civil Service Commission,<\/strong>\u00a0which governs how fire service (and in some cases police) employees are hired, promoted, disciplined, or removed.<\/p>\n

Members of the Board have quasi-judicial authority over personnel decisions related to our fire and public safety professionals.<\/p>\n

The damage was compounded when officials admitted they failed to conduct routine background checks, yet still moved forward with the appointment despite explicit warnings from prosecutors and law enforcement that this decision would undermine public confidence and basic governance standards.<\/p>\n

As it stands today, by a 5-4 vote, convicted murderer Kyle Hedquist is now appointed to both the City of Salem Community Police Review Board and the Civil Service Commission.<\/p>\n

Who they Appointed<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Kyle Hedquist<\/strong>\u00a0is a convicted aggravated murderer who, in 1994, murdered a teenage foster child, Nikki Thrasher, \u00a0by luring her to a remote area in Douglas County, Oregon, and shooting her in the back of the head \u2013 \u2018execution style\u2019 \u2013 to avoid being reported for theft.<\/p>\n

He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. \u00a0Hedquist had additional convictions related to robbery and kidnapping for robbing a local Pizza Hut and holding workers and customers at gunpoint.<\/p>\n

Despite this history,\u00a0Kyle Hedquist<\/strong>\u00a0was released from Oregon State Penitentiary and had his sentence commuted by Governor Kate Brown in 2022 as part of her progressive public safety reforms.\u00a0 This was done without notifying the victims.<\/p>\n

Upon the state\u2019s attempt to locate Hedquist upon his release, Douglas County refused him because of safety concerns related to victims of his crimes still living in the community.\u00a0 He was subsequently released into Marion County against the strong opposition of then-District Attorney Paige Clarkson and Sheriff Joe Kast.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

One councilor has already flipped, signaling a possible revote in January 2026.<\/p>\n