A Seattle Police Officer The person who struck and killed a graduate student from India with his car while responding to an overdose call in January 2023 has been fired, Seattle's interim police chief announced Monday.
Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr wrote in an email to employees that she fired Kevin Dave after Seattle's Office of Police Accountability determined he violated four department policies, including one requiring officers to be responsible for safely operating a patrol vehicle, in connection with the death. From Jahnavi Kandola, according to Seattle Times.
“I believe the officer did not intend to hurt anyone that night, and that he was trying to get to a potential overdose victim as quickly as possible,” Rahr wrote.
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Photo of Janavi Kandola displayed with flowers, January 29, 2023, in Seattle. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)
“However, I cannot accept the tragic consequences of his dangerous driving,” she continued. “His positive intentions do not mitigate a poor decision that caused the loss of a human life and brought the Seattle Police Department into disrepute.”
Rahr's announcement comes nearly a year after King County prosecutors announced they would decline to file the case Felony charges against Dave because there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Dave was willfully disregarding safety when he struck and killed Kandola.
The Seattle City Attorney's Office later issued Dave $5,000 for reckless driving.
The Seattle City Attorney's Office issued a $5,000 bond to Dave for reckless driving. (Istock)
Dave was driving up to 74 mph on a street with a 25 mph speed limit before he crashed into Kandola, city prosecutors said. Dave initially contested the ticket before recently agreeing to pay the fine, complete an eight-hour traffic safety course within a year, and perform 40 hours of community service by September 30.
Kandola's death sparked intense anger in the United States and India, especially after a video clip was published that another officer was wearing on his body. On the recording, that officer, Daniel Oderer, laughed and noted that Kandola's life had “limited value” and that the city should “just write a check.”
Diplomats from India called for an investigation, and Seattle's civilian watchdog found that comments by Oderer, who was a union leader, harmed politics. Police Department Reputation and undermines public confidence.
Dave was driving up to 74 mph on a street with a 25 mph speed limit before he crashed into Kandola, city prosecutors said. (Seattle Police Department/File)
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Auderer was eventually fired over the comments.
Kandola's family sued Dave and the city for wrongful death, alleging that Kandola suffered severe emotional distress, pain and suffering before dying from her injuries. The family said it is demanding compensation of $110 million, in addition to $11,000. The case is scheduled to go to trial in September.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
