Seattle officer who killed college student Jaahnavi Kandula has been fired

By Ritu Jha-

A Seattle police officer has been fired after his speeding patrol car struck and killed a college student in January 2023. Officer Kevin Dave was dismissed on Monday, January 6, for violating Seattle Police Department (SPD) policies.

Seattle Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Patrick Michaud confirmed to indica about Dave’s firing, which was announced by Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr. Rahr said Dave’s actions violated multiple department policies, including those related to emergency response, vehicle operation, and adherence to city laws.

Jaahnavi Kandula, 23, a graduate student from India studying information systems at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus, was crossing the street on January 26, 2023, when Dave’s patrol car struck her. The vehicle was traveling at 74 mph and its emergency lights were not activated. Kandula was thrown 100 feet upon impact and later died at Harborview Medical Center.

Kandula, a native of Kurnool, India, was a student at Northeastern’s South Lake Union campus. Following the incident, King County prosecutors declined to pursue the case, and it was referred to the Seattle City Attorney’s Office, which charged Dave with second-degree negligent driving. The Seattle Office of Police Accountability (OPA) delayed its investigation until both criminal and civil cases were concluded.

The OPA determined that Dave had violated several SPD policies, including those requiring officers to operate their vehicles safely, use emergency lights when responding to calls, and follow traffic laws.

In a statement, Interim Police Chief Rahr said, “While I believe Officer Dave did not intend to harm anyone and was attempting to reach a possible overdose victim, I cannot accept the tragic consequences of his reckless driving.” 

She added that the incident serves as a reminder for officers to be mindful of the dangers posed by excessive speed during emergency responses.

The case received additional media attention after body camera footage surfaced showing SPD officer Daniel Auderer, who was investigating the accident, making an insensitive comment about Kandula’s death. Auderer, who was also the vice president of the Seattle Police Officers’ Guild, was fired in August 2023. He has since filed a $20 million lawsuit against the city, claiming SPD conspired against him.

Dave was also fined $5,000 by the District Attorney’s office and is required to complete an eight-hour traffic safety course within a year.

In September, Kandula’s family filed a lawsuit against the City of Seattle, seeking to hold the city responsible for Dave’s actions.

The tragic incident has sparked ongoing discussions about police accountability and the dangers of high-speed emergency responses.

When indica asked the King County prosecutors to decline to pursue the case said through a statement, “This case was referred to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO) by law enforcement for a review only and without the recommendation for any charges. No Certification for Determination of Probable Cause was included, and the lead detective did not believe he could sign one under penalty of perjury.”