Convicted killer appointed to police oversight panel in Oregon city
Kyle Hedquist was convicted for murder in 1994, was sentenced to life in prison, then served 28 years before being granted clemency in 2022. Hedquist was 17 at the time of the crime. His victim was Nikki Thrasher, 19, shot execution style and then left by a road. Two years after Hedquist’s release, Salam City, Oregon, appointed him to the Community Police Review Board. Hedquist will take part in overseeing public safety and police conduct.
From Blaze Media:
Hedquist was 17 at the time of the crime. Prosecutors said he drove Thrasher to a wooded area, shot her in the back of the head, and left her body on a remote logging road. They described the killing as an “execution-style” murder.
According to prosecutors, Hedquist believed Thrasher had discovered he had stolen items from his aunt and killed her to prevent her from reporting him. Thrasher had asked him about the stolen items, which prosecutors said he interpreted as a threat.
Two years after his release, the Salem City Council appointed Hedquist to the city’s Community Police Review Board, which oversees police conduct and public safety matters. The council recently reappointed him to the position, prompting renewed backlash.
Some city officials have defended the decision, citing Hedquist’s rehabilitation and community involvement since his release.
Others strongly disagree. Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson criticized the appointment, calling it inappropriate for a public safety role.
“While I acknowledge there are appropriate ways for those who have completed their sentences and demonstrated rehabilitation to give back to our community, this is not one of them,” Clarkson said. “Our police and fire professionals have a right to expect better from city leadership.”
The Oregon Republican Party also condemned the decision in a statement, calling it “absurd” to place a convicted murderer on a board overseeing public safety and policing.
Additional Reading:
Garcia, C. (2025, December 29). Outrage after Oregon city appoints convicted killer to police oversight panel. Blaze Media. Link.
Category: Crime, Democrats, Liberals suck, Society
