Outrage mounts over Seattle police bodycam that shows cop laughing about fatality

Public outrage is mounting in Seattle over video footage that appears to show a police officer laughing and joking about a fatal collision that killed a 23-year-old Indian graduate student. Since the video's release, Mayor Bruce Harrell has issued condolences to the victim's family, and the Indian Consulate has called for a federal investigation.

Protesters are planning a rally at 5 p.m. Thursday at the corner of Thomas Street and Dexter Avenue North, at the crosswalk where Jaahnavi Kandula was fatally struck in January by a Seattle patrol car traveling at more than 70 mph en route to a 911 call.

Recently released bodycam footage captured one side of a phone conversation between Seattle Police Det. Daniel Auderer and Officer Mike Solan, the day after that fatal accident. Auderer is vice president of Seattle’s police union. Solan is the union president. The two appear to be joking and laughing about the incident. Read more about the video below.

Mayor Bruce Harrell wrote a personal letter to members of Kandula’s family Thursday, emphasizing that her life had “immeasurable value” and insisting that Auderer’s recorded comments did not reflect the feelings of the larger community.

“Her life had immeasurable value, and any sentiment, shared by one person, that expresses otherwise does not represent the very real feelings of heartbreak that our entire city has over the loss of your child,” Harrell wrote.

Meanwhile, the Indian Consulate released a statement on social media calling for a federal investigation into the incident, calling the video "deeply troubling."

The school where Kandula was pursuing a master's degree in information systems, the Seattle campus of Northeastern University, issued a statement criticizing the insensitivity of Seattle police and calling for “justice and accountability.”

“Callous and insensitive remarks by a Seattle police officer have become public, reopening wounds and deepening our collective heartbreak,” the statement said.

U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal also said she was shocked by the footage and the police exchange about Kandula, which "devalued her life."

"I’m sick to my stomach," Jayapal, a Washington Democrat, posted on social media. "This is exactly what happens when we normalize xenophobia and racism."

The video

During the conversation captured on bodycap video, Auderer can be heard saying that he didn’t believe the police vehicle involved in the fatal crash was out of control.

“She is dead,” he said, followed by laughter. Solan’s side of the conversation is not audible, so the exact context is unclear. Later in the conversation, Auderer says, “Yeah, just write a check.” And then, “She was 26 anyway. She had limited value.”

WARNING: The content of this bodycam video from Seattle Police is disturbing.

The incident comes in the wake of other damning video footage that emerged this summer that showed the mock tombstone of a young man killed by Seattle police in 2017. In that video, taken in the East Precinct breakroom, a 2020 Trump election flag can also be seen hanging on a wall.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was amended Friday, Sept. 15, to more accurately reflect the tone and substance of Mayor Harrell's letter to Kandula's family.

KUOW's Paige Browning contributed to this report.