TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Krishna Namburi, City Manager
FROM: Dan Atchison, City Attorney
SUBJECT:
title
Background information on the Community Police Review Board and Civil Service Commission appointment process.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Good Governance.
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SUMMARY:
summary
This report provides background information on the appointment process for the Community Police Review Board (CPRB or Board) and Civil Service Commission (CSC).
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ISSUE:
Information only.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Information only.
body
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Community Police Review Board
The Community Police Review Board (CPRB) is a seven member board with two alternates as established under section 201 of the Salem Revised Code <https://library.municode.com/or/salem/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TITIGO_CH20ICOPOREBO_S20I.020APTEME>. The purpose of the CPRB is to review unresolved complaints against sworn members of the Police Department. The Board may meet in executive session to review confidential records concerning unresolved complaints and is advisory to the City Manager. The Board may also:
• Review and advise on Salem Police Department policy and procedure,
• Review and analyze complaint summaries and trends of the department, and
• Refer issues to the City Manager.
The CPRB members are appointed by City Council. Council must consider several factors when reviewing applicants:
• Civic participation within the community,
• Residency within the city,
• Criminal history,
• Commitment to the goals of the Board,
• Demonstrated life experiences or training in cultural or ethnic diversity, and
• Any experience the individual has had with police officers in general and the Salem Police Department in particular.
Civil Service Commission
The CSC is a three-person commission established under sections 28 through 48 of the Salem Charter <https://www.cityofsalem.net/government/laws-rules/city-charter>. The Commission is also subject to the requirements of Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Chapter 242. The purpose of the Commission is to investigate the enforcement and effect of regulations related to the appointment and promotion of fire service positions. The Commission may also classify all positions within the civil service, based upon the functions of the positions and the compensation. The Commission may also conduct promotional examinations for applicants.
Applicant Appointment Process
The City Council Boards and Commissions Appointments Committee (B&C Committee or Committee) is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations for filling vacancies on City boards and commissions. The B&C Committee reviews applicants to determine if the applicants have established they are qualified and otherwise eligible to serve. After such review, the Committee forwards its recommendations to the Mayor (if the Mayor makes the appointment) or Council (if Council makes the appointment).
If an incumbent seeks reappointment, the Committee will review the incumbent’s record and either recommend that the incumbent be reappointed or the position be declared open.
With regard to the CPRB appointment process, in 2025 staff became aware that an applicant’s criminal history was one of the factors Council was required to consider when making appointments. Previously, applicants were neither asked about their criminal history nor was a background check conducted.
Staff from the Legal Department, City Manager’s office and Police Department established administrative criteria for an applicant’s criminal history that would form staff’s recommendation to Council and the B&C Committee on CPRB applicants. Those criteria were presented to the B&C Committee on October 6, 2025 (Attachment 1). Staff also developed a procedure for conducting criminal background checks and additional questions for CPRB applicants (Attachment 2). The criteria are applicable to staff’s background check review and recommendation. Neither the B&C Committee nor Council are required to follow them.
Staff then notified all current CPRB members that the City would be conducting criminal history background checks and then performed a check on each member, including Kyle Hedquist. Mr. Hedquist was the only member with any relevant criminal history.
On October 6, 2025, the B&C Committee considered whether to take action on Mr. Hedquist’s position on the CPRB given his criminal history. The Committee requested that staff inquire with the other members of the CPRB to find out if they had concerns about serving on the Board with Mr. Hedquist.
On November 5, 2025, staff reported back to the B&C Committee that the eight members of the CPRB were equally split on serving with Mr. Hedquist, with four members expressing some concern and four members not expressing concern. Based on his criminal history and consistent with the administrative criteria, staff recommended that Mr. Hedquist not be reappointed and the position be declared vacant.
At the December 3, 2025, Committee meeting, the Committee then recommended to City Council that Council not reappoint Mr. Hedquist and declare the position open. The Committee also reviewed applications to fill several other vacancies on City boards and commissions, including the Civil Service Commission. The B&C Committee voted to recommend that Council appoint Mr. Hedquist to the Civil Service Commission.
On December 8, 2025, City Council voted to reappoint Mr. Hedquist to the CPRB and appoint him to the CSC.
BACKGROUND:
See above.
Dan Atchison
City Attorney
Attachments:
1. October 6, 2025 B&C Committee staff report.
2. Criminal History Check Procedures