SEATTLE — The interim police chief of Seattle announced on Monday the termination of a police officer involved in a fatal incident that claimed the life of an Indian graduate student earlier this year. The officer, Kevin Dave, faced dismissal following a report from the Seattle Office of Police Accountability, which determined he had breached four departmental policies relevant to the operation of a patrol vehicle.
Interim Chief Sue Rahr communicated her decision to the department employees through an email, stating that while she believed Dave did not intend to cause harm and was responding to a potential overdose situation, the outcome of his reckless driving was unacceptable. “His good intentions do not excuse the poor choices that led to the tragic loss of a life and tarnished the image of the Seattle Police Department,” Rahr explained.
The announcement arrives almost a year after King County prosecutors opted not to pursue felony charges against Dave due to a lack of sufficient evidence showing intentional disregard for safety in connection with the fatal crash that resulted in the death of 23-year-old Jaahnavi Kandula. Following the incident, the Seattle City Attorney’s Office issued a citation for negligent driving to Dave, who was accused of speeding at rates as high as 74 mph in a zone with a speed limit of 25 mph. Although he initially contested the citation, Dave has since agreed to pay the fine, undergo an eight-hour traffic safety course within the year, and perform 40 hours of community service before the end of September, according to municipal court records.
Kandula’s death sparked widespread outrage, particularly following the emergence of a recording from another officer’s body camera. In the footage, Officer Daniel Auderer, who held a position within the police union, could be heard making insensitive comments regarding Kandula’s life, suggesting it held “limited value” and that the city should merely provide financial compensation. This incident prompted diplomatic representatives from India to call for an investigation into the matter. The city’s civilian oversight committee later determined Auder’s remarks had a detrimental effect on the reputation of the police department and diminished public trust. Subsequently, Auderer was dismissed from his position.
Additionally, Kandula’s family has initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against both the city and Officer Dave, seeking accountability for their loss.
