Jaahnavi Kandula’s death: Seattle police officer who mocked Andhra student’s death fired

Seattle: Almost one and half years after the death of 23-year-old Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula in Seattle, who was hit by a speeding police vehicle, police officer Daniel Auderer who made insensitive remarks and joked about the student’s death has been fired from the department.

The decision was taken on July 17 by the Seattle Police Department interim police chief Sue Rahr, who issued an email to the police department.

“The actions of this individual police officer have brought shame on the Seattle Police Department and our entire profession, making the job of every police officer more difficult. It is my duty as the leader of this organisation to uphold the high standards necessary to maintain public trust. For me to allow the officer to remain on our force would only bring further dishonour to the entire department. For that reason, I am going to terminate his employment,” said the officer.

How Jaahnavi Kandula death exposed police apathy in the US

Jaahnavi, a native of Adoni in Kurnool of Andhra Pradesh was hit by a police officer, Kevin Dave, who was on his way to attend a call on January 23, 2023. She was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead.

Another police officer, Daniel Auderer, vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, was assigned to check whether Dave was under any influence. As he inadvertently left his body camera on, it recorded a call made to the guild president Mike Solan.

On September 2023, an audio captured by the body camera of the responding police officer joking and suggesting her life had ‘limited value’ was released. Auderer who was on a phone call with police union president Mike Solan.

“That’s not reckless for a trained driver. But she is dead. No, it’s a regular person. The city should ‘just write a check’. “Eleven thousand dollars. She was 26 anyway,” said Auderer laughing and misquoting her age in the audio.

In the video, Auderer can be heard saying ‘she is dead’ before bursting out into laughter.

The 23-year-old student was pursuing a Master’s degree in Information Systems from the Seattle campus of Northeastern University. According to her family members, Jahnavi was working to support her mother in India.

What actions will be taken on Auderer?

The footage was forwarded to the Seattle Office of Police Accountability and an investigation into Auderer’s conduct was opened. Leesa Manion, the King County Prosecuting Attorney, also announced a criminal review of Dave’s actions. The released footage prompted condemnation and the Consulate General of India in San Francisco stated that the footage was ‘deeply troubling’ and called for an investigation.

By September 29, 2023 Auderer had been suspended from patrol duty.

On February 21, 2024, the King County Prosecutor’s Office decided against filing criminal charges against Dave. Manion stated that the criminal review did not turn up enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Dave had acted with recklessness or criminal negligence, as required under Washington State law.