A Seattle police officer, Kevin Dave, has been fired for hitting and killing a graduate student from India, Jaahnavi Kandul, with his vehicle while responding to an overdose call in January 2023. Interim police chief Sue Rahr made the announcement on Monday.
According to Rahr, Dave had violated four department policies, including one requiring officers to operate their patrol vehicles safely. She acknowledged that Dave likely did not intend to harm anyone, but his poor decision-making and driving led to the tragic consequences.
Dave was involved in a high-speed pursuit when he struck Kandula, who was walking on the street. The incident was caught on body-worn camera footage, which showed another officer, Daniel Auderer, making comments that sparked outrage and damage to the police department’s reputation.
Dave was initially charged with negligent driving and was fined $5,000. However, the King County prosecutors declined to file felony charges due to insufficient evidence. The Seattle City Attorney’s Office also issued Dave a $5,000 citation for negligent driving.
A wrongful-death lawsuit has been filed by Kandul’s family, alleging that she experienced severe emotional distress, pain, and suffering before her death, and seeking $110 million in damages, plus $11,000. The case is set to go to trial in September.