A Seattle police officer, Kevin Dave, responsible for the tragic death of an Indian student, Jaahnavi Kandula, has been dismissed from the police department.
Jahnavi Kandula, a student from Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh, was fatally struck by a speeding police patrol vehicle in Seattle, USA, in January 2023.
Despite Officer Dave’s claim that he was speeding to assist a person suffering from a drug overdose, Seattle Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr stated that his reckless driving caused the unfortunate incident, leading to the loss of a young life.
She emphasized that while the officer’s intent may have been good, the outcome was catastrophic and could not be justified.
The police department found Kevin Dave guilty of violating four departmental regulations, following which a formal dismissal notice was issued.
Chief Rahr informed officers via an internal mail that the decision was made due to the severe breach of protocol, which had tarnished the reputation of the Seattle Police Department.
The incident occurred on January 23, 2023, when Jahnavi Kandula was crossing a street in Seattle. Kevin Dave, who was driving at a speed of 119 km/h, hit her with such force that she was thrown nearly 100 feet away. Jahnavi succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Another officer, Daniel Auderer, who mocked Jahnavi Kandula’s death and made insensitive remarks, was also dismissed earlier.
Auderer was caught on his body camera laughing and saying, “She’s just a regular person… her life had little value.” The footage went viral, sparking public outrage and prompting an internal investigation, which led to his removal from the department.
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