Ex-Officer Alleges Wrongful Termination
A former Seattle police officer, Daniel Auderer, has filed a $20 million claim against the city, alleging wrongful termination after being fired for making insensitive comments about a woman fatally struck by a police car.
Auderer claims the Seattle Police Department leaked false information about his disciplinary proceedings and released personal information, including his home address.
Auderer, who was dismissed last month, was caught on his body camera laughing and stating that the life of 23-year-old Jaahnavi Kandula, killed by a police cruiser in January 2023, had “limited value.” He asserts in his July 25 claim that his firing was retaliatory, particularly due to his role as the former vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild.
“The department then wrongfully terminated me. This was retaliatory, at least due to my union leadership.”
Response from the department
Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr criticized Auderer’s actions in an email to the department, stating, “The officer’s laughter and callous comments about the ‘limited value’ of Ms. Kandula’s life displayed a cruel mockery of the sanctity of her life.” She emphasized that his behavior not only shattered public trust in him as an officer but also severely damaged the reputation of the entire Seattle Police Department.
Neither Auderer nor the city attorney’s office commented further on the matter, and Chief Rahr has yet to respond to additional requests for comment.
