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Seattle Cop Fired 2 Years After He Struck Dead Indian-Origin Student

Kevin Dave, the Seattle Police Department official who rammed his police car into Indian-origin student Jaahnavi Kandula, has been fired two years after the fatal incident.

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Priya Prakash
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Left: Kevin Dave, Right: Jaahnavi Kandula

Kevin Dave, the Seattle Police Department official who rammed his police car into Indian-origin student Jaahnavi Kandula, was fired on January 6, two years after the fatal incident. The department said in a statement that he was terminated after the investigation revealed he violated four department policies, including the use of emergency lights for an emergency response and being responsible for safely operating a patrol vehicle. 

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According to the Seattle Times, Chief Sue Rahr wrote in an email sent to employees, "I believe the officer did not intend to hurt anyone that night and that he was trying to get to a possible overdose victim as quickly as possible. However, I cannot accept the tragic consequences of his dangerous driving. His positive intent does not mitigate the poor decision that caused the loss of a human life and brought discredit to the Seattle Police Department." 

What Happened To Jaahnavi Kandula?

On January 23, 2023, Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old graduate student from India at Seattle's Northeastern University, was struck by a speeding police vehicle as she was crossing the street. Seattle Officer Kevin Dave was allegedly responding to a drug overdose call when he hit Kandula, news agency the Press Trust of India reported.

In February 2024, the Indian Consulate in Seattle sought a review of a judgement that dropped criminal charges against Kevin Dave. The King County Prosecutor's Office said in a report that charges against Officer Kevin Dave were dropped.  Attorney Leesa Manion said in a statement, "After staffing this case with senior deputy prosecuting attorneys and office leadership, I have determined that we lack sufficient evidence under Washington State law to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt." 

After a thorough probe by the Seattle Office of Police Accountability, Dave's employment was terminated on January 6, 2025. The tragic Jaahnavi Kandula case has seen many developments in the last two years, including another police officer being fired for making insensitive remarks. Dave reportedly called Officer Daniel Auderer, vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, to inspect the scene after the collision. 

Another Officer From Seattle Police: July 2024

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In July 2024, Officer Daniel Auderer was fired as he was heard laughing and making insensitive remarks about Kandula during a call with the guild's president, Mike Solan. The department's Disciplinary Action Report said that Auderer's bodycam footage caught him saying, "Yeah, just write a check. Just, yeah (laughter). USD 11,000. She was 26, anyway. She had limited value."

Auderer was further heard saying, "Uh, I think she went up on the hood, hit the windshield, and then when he hit the brakes, flew off the car...But she is dead." He then said she "had limited value anyway," Interim Chief Sue Rahr at the Seattle Police Department said, "the hurt Auderer's words have inflicted on Kandula's family "cannot be erased.

When probed at an Office of Police Accountability about his insensitive comments, Auderer claimed he was "ridiculing the city attorneys who would be tasked with litigating a potential wrongful death lawsuit." In an email seen by PTI Wednesday, Rahr noted, "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. 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."

In an August 2024 interview, Auderer claimed he was "wrongfully terminated." He said in the claim for damages, "This was retaliatory at least due to my union leadership."

Who was Jaahnavi Kandula?

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Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old graduate student from Andhra Pradesh, India, was pursuing a master's degree at Northeastern University in South Lake Union, Seattle. She arrived in the United States in 2021 as part of a student exchange programme and was set to graduate later this year. Her mother, a dedicated elementary school teacher, reportedly took on a significant financial burden to support Kandula's educational pursuits in the US.

Demand for Investigation

Hundreds of members of the South Asian community held a rally in September 2023, demanding sensitivity and respect on the site where she was struck and killed by a speeding police patrol car. Between lanes at the intersection, marchers lit tea lights spelling out “Jaahnavi” and laid bouquets underneath a sign, reports Press Trust Of India.

The incident has not only sparked outrage within the United States but has also prompted international concern. India, in particular, has called for a "thorough investigation" into the matter. The Consulate General of India in San Francisco expressed deep concern and wrote on social media.

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