Seattle cop fired over 'disturbing and inhumane' remarks about woman struck dead by police SUV

A police officer in Seattle has been fired over making "disturbing and inhumane" remarks about a graduate student from India who was struck dead by a fellow officer's car at a pedestrian crossing last year, reports KIRO-TV.

Officer Daniel Auderer was dismissed on Wednesday over comments he made soon after Jaahnavi Kandula passed away in January 2023. His colleague, Kevin Dave, 49, was driving at 74 mph in a 25 mph zone while responding to an overdose call when he hit Kandula. He started braking less than a second before hitting the young woman.

Dave was going at 63 mph when he struck Kandula. His speed didn't give either time to "detect, address, and avoid a hazard that presented itself," according to a report by the department's traffic collision investigation team.

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Felony charges were not filed against Dave as there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he consciously disregarded safety . Dave was cited and fined $5,000 for negligent driving but was then slapped with a delinquent notice in May for not paying the fine. He is now challenging the citation with a hearing in August.

Dave got shifted to desk duties after Kandula's passing but a probe into the crash carried on, which unearthed the tail end of Auderer's chat which was accidentally , and unknowingly to him, recorded on his body-worn camera .

Chuckles can be heard from Auderer after he mentions Kandula's death . He mistakenly mentions she was "just 26," and suggests her young age meant she had "limited value" and that the city should settle with an $11,000 cheque.

This conversation stayed under wraps until last August when the police brass stumbled upon the audio from. In an email sent out across the precinct, interim police Chief for Seattle, Sue Rahr, said Auderer's actions "brought shame on the Seattle Police Department and our entire profession, making the job of every police officer more difficult."

The Office of Police Accountability advised Auderer should be let go due to unprofessional conduct and showing prejudice in his comments. The officer's comments were labelled "derogatory, disturbing and inhumane."

Auderer admitted his words were hurtful during a disciplinary hearing. He was " horrified " by their impact on the young woman's family and wished he could shoulder their pain. He concluded with a "heartfelt apology".

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However, when Rahr weighed this against his actions, she told Auderer that his "your cruel and callous laughter" and the suffering inflicted on Kandula's family could not be balanced.

Auderer holds the position of elected vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, which represents 900 rank-and-file officers. He has served as an officer since 2009, and received several letters of support from his colleagues.

Auderer said his conversation with union President Mike Solan was private and never meant to be overheard. Rahr said his intention to keep his comments private did not sufficiently mitigate the devastation caused by his actions.

Betts and the department's command staff recommended to then-Chief Adrian Diaz in January that Auderer should either be fired or suspended for 30 days without pay, which is the most severe punishment short of termination.

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