Jahnavi Kandula Dying: Mayor Bruce Harrel apologised to the Indian group
New Delhi:
The Seattle Mayor has expressed his anguish over the demise of an Indian scholar, days after a bodycam footage of a cop – joking concerning the incident – went viral.
Within the bodycam footage, officer Daniel Auderer was heard laughing concerning the lethal crash after Jaahnavi Kandula was run over by a police automobile earlier this yr.
Mayor Bruce Harrel apologised to the Indian group for the insensitive remarks made by Daniel Auderer. “Members of the Indian group have come collectively due to the unlucky and insensitive remarks I imagine have been made.We’re ensuring that our apology as metropolis officers is felt to your group and household, my condolences on your loss,” he stated.
Seattle police chief Adrian Diaz additionally provided his condolences for the 23-year-old’s demise. “We’re right here to proceed to pay attention. We had these insensitive feedback, we are going to make sure that it by no means ever happens. We worth human life,” he stated.
About 20 individuals – representing the Indian group within the area – met with the Seattle Mayor and Police Chief on Saturday. Throughout the assembly, the mayor and the police chief reiterated their dedication to create a Seattle the place “each neighbour feels secure, heard, and revered.”
The US authorities has assured India of a fast and honest investigation into the demise of Jaahnavi Kandula.
The authorities swung into motion after Indian consulate raised the difficulty and sought motion towards these accountable for Jaahnavi Kandula’s demise and likewise these heard joking on the video.
Within the video, Officer Daniel Auderer will be heard laughing concerning the lethal crash and likewise says that there was no want for a legal investigation towards his colleague Kevin Dave, who was driving the automobile.
“However she is useless… ” the officer is heard saying earlier than laughing. “No, it is a common individual. Yeah, simply write a cheque,” he’s heard, earlier than laughing once more. “Eleven thousand {dollars}. She was 26, anyway. She had restricted worth.”
The footage was launched on Monday – months after Ms Kandula was killed – with a short assertion that stated it had been flagged by Seattle Police Division worker “within the routine course of enterprise” who expressed “concern concerning the nature of statements heard” on the video.
Auderer had been tasked with figuring out if Dave was underneath the affect and concluded he was not. After ending his inquiry he was speaking to SPOG chief Mike Solan and the bodycam footage captured the audio from that decision. Solely Auderer’s aspect of the dialog is audible.