Daniel Auderer, a former Seattle police officer, is suing the city for $20 million. He was fired after bodycam footage showed him joking and laughing about the death of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old student who was struck and killed by a police car.
Auderer claims his reputation was damaged, his firing was unjust, and he has suffered mentally. He is also seeking compensation for lost wages of $200,000 per year.
He argues that his comments were taken out of context and that the city leaked false information about him. Auderer believes his firing was retaliatory due to his role in the Seattle Police Officers Guild.
Seattle interim police Chief Sue Rahr defended the firing, stating that Auderer’s actions have brought shame on the department and made the work of other officers more difficult.
The incident involved a police car hitting Kandula, and the released bodycam footage shows Auderer making insensitive remarks about her value.