Seattle Police Department (SPD) officer Dan Auderer, who was captured on body camera laughing after a tragic incident in which a woman was hit and killed by another officer, will have the opportunity to plead his case in a closed-door hearing on Monday. The hearing, known as a “loudermill hearing,” will allow Auderer to present his side of the story before any disciplinary action is taken.
The controversy surrounding Auderer began three months ago when the Seattle Office of Police Accountability, a civilian-led police watchdog agency, recommended disciplinary action against him for violating professional standards with his comments. The recommendation now rests with Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz.
The incident in question occurred on January 23, 2023, when 23-year-old Jaahnavi Kandula, a student at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus, was tragically killed while walking in a crosswalk. Officer Kevin Dave, who was responding to an overdose call, struck and killed her with his SUV. Auderer, who arrived on the scene to conduct a routine sobriety test on Dave, was captured on body camera video laughing and making offensive comments about Kandula.
In the recording, Auderer can be heard saying, “Yeah, just write a check. Just $11,000. She was 26. Anyway, she had limited value,” during a phone call with the president of the Seattle Police Officer Guild. These remarks sparked outrage and led to the recommendation for disciplinary action.
While Auderer currently faces no criminal charges for his comments, SPD Police Chief Adrian Diaz has already removed him from active duty, assigning him to desk duty within the department. It remains unclear what Auderer’s current responsibilities are.
In his defense, Auderer claims that his comments were taken out of context and were meant to satirize hypothetical arguments made by city lawyers. The closed-door hearing will provide him with an opportunity to present his case and provide further context to his remarks.
The outcome of the hearing and any subsequent disciplinary action will be determined by Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz. The SPD remains committed to holding its officers accountable and maintaining the public’s trust in the department.
