Daniel Auderer, a fired Seattle police officer, is suing the city for $20 million after being terminated for joking and laughing about a woman who was killed when she was struck by a patrol car.
### **Article:**
Daniel Auderer, a former Seattle police officer, has filed a $20 million tort complaint against the city of Seattle for damages after he was fired for his behavior following the death of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Northeastern University student. Auderer claims harm to his personal reputation, wrongful termination, and mental pain and suffering. He is also claiming lost wages of $200,000 per year.
Seattle Police Officer Sues City for Wrongful Termination After Laughing About Fatally Struck Woman
The incident in question occurred in February 2022, when Kandula was fatally struck by a Seattle police patrol car while crossing the street in a crosswalk. Auderer, who was not involved in the incident, was captured on body camera footage making insensitive remarks about Kandula's death.
In the footage, Auderer can be heard referring to Kandula as "a regular person" and saying to, "just write a check — $11,000, she was 26 anyway, she had limited value."
Seattle Police Officer Sues City for Wrongful Termination After Laughing About Fatally Struck Woman
Auderer's comments sparked outrage and led to an internal investigation by the Seattle Police Department. The investigation concluded that Auderer violated department policy by making "callous and unprofessional" remarks about Kandula's death. Auderer was subsequently fired from the department in May 2023.
In his lawsuit, Auderer claims that his comments were taken out of context and that he was unfairly targeted for termination because of his leadership role in the Seattle Police Officers Guild. Auderer also alleges that the Seattle Police Department leaked false information about him and the disciplinary proceedings against him.
Seattle Police Officer Sues City for Wrongful Termination After Laughing About Fatally Struck Woman
Seattle interim police Chief Sue Rahr has defended her decision to terminate Auderer, saying that his actions "have brought shame on the Seattle Police Department and our entire profession."
The lawsuit is the latest development in the aftermath of Kandula's death. The officer who struck Kandula was placed on administrative leave following the incident and is facing criminal charges.
The Seattle Police Department has also implemented new policies and training to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The lawsuit is expected to proceed through the legal system in the coming months.
* Jaahnavi Kandula was a graduate student from India who was studying at Northeastern University at the time of her death.
* The Seattle Police Department is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the United States.
* The Seattle Police Officers Guild is a labor union that represents Seattle police officers.
* Auderer's lawsuit is a high-profile case that has raised questions about police misconduct and accountability.
* The outcome of the lawsuit will be closely watched by police departments and law enforcement agencies across the country.
