Five Salem City Councilors Made a Mess and Undermined Community Safety
Tell them to Support their Public Safety Professionals and Clean up this Mess
The Mess That Was Created
Five Salem city councilors (Councilors Irvin Brown, Linda Nishioka, Vanessa Nordyke, Mai Vang, and Micki Varney) created a credibility crisis by appointing without vetting— and then reappointing —a convicted aggravated murderer to both the Community Police Review Board, a body meant to build public trust in law enforcement accountability, and the Civil Service Commission, which governs how fire service (and in some cases police) employees are hired, promoted, disciplined, or removed. Members of the Board have quasi-judicial authority over personnel decisions related to our fire and public safety professionals.
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.
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.
Who they Appointed
Kyle Hedquist is a convicted aggravated murderer who, in 1994, murdered a teenage foster child, Nikki Thrasher, by luring her to a remote area in Douglas County, Oregon, and shooting her in the back of the head – ‘execution style’ - to avoid being reported for theft. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Hedquist had additional convictions related to robbery and kidnapping for robbing a local Pizza Hut and holding workers and customers at gunpoint.
Despite this history, Kyle Hedquist was released from Oregon State Penitentiary and had his sentence commuted by Governor Kate Brown in 2022 as part of her progressive public safety reforms. This was done without notifying the victims.
Upon the state’s 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. He was subsequently released into Marion County against the strong opposition of then-District Attorney Paige Clarkson and Sheriff Joe Kast.
How We FIX THIS MESS
As police and fire professionals in the Salem community, we are asking residents to stand with us by sending a message to the five City Councilors who voted Kyle Hedquist onto the Community Police Review Board and Civil Service Commission to tell them to re-consider this decision and fix the mess that they created.
Send a Message to Thank Salem Mayor Julie Hoy for Standing up for our Public Safety Professionals
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden Said it Best
“This clemency decision is wrong on every level, starting with its callousness toward the crime victim’s family and extending to all Oregonians counting on public officials to make decisions with public safety in mind. Plain and simple, I oppose this grossly irresponsible use of the clemency powers.”
In 2022, Sen. Wyden voiced his criticism after Gov. Kate Brown granted clemency to the same man, who sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the executive-style murder.
In the News
Contact these Five Salem Councilors. Tell them to Reverse their Decision and Support our Public Safety Professionals.
Councilor Linda Nishioka
Email: lnishioka@cityofsalem.net
Phone: 503-399-7802
Councilor Dr. Irvin Brown
Email: ibrown@cityofsalem.net
Phone: 503-399-7905
Councilor Mai Vang
Email: mvang@cityofsalem.net
Phone: 503-399-7906
Councilor Vanessa Nordyke
Email: vnordyke@cityofsalem.net
Phone: 503-399-7907
Councilor Micki Varney
Email: mvarney@cityofsalem.net
Phone: 503-399-7808