A convicted Oregon killer freed early by former Democratic Governor Kate Brown is now placed in a position of authority in Salem after the City Council voted to reappoint him to the Community Police Review Board. For many Oregonians the decision is not merely controversial but profoundly disturbing and morally indefensible.
In a narrow five to four vote on December eight the Salem City Council reinstated Kyle Hedquist a man who was originally sentenced to life in prison for the execution style murder of nineteen year old Nikki Thrasher. After serving twenty seven years Hedquist was released following executive clemency granted by Kate Brown. The council’s decision overrode the recommendation of its own Boards and Commissions Appointments Committee which had urged that the seat be left vacant.
To critics this was not a technical disagreement or procedural oversight. It was a deliberate choice to ignore the gravity of an aggravated murder conviction and to elevate ideology over basic standards of public trust…