SEATTLE, WA - Two years after a woman was hit and killed while running in a crosswalk, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) has fired the officer that was responsible.
According to KING5, on January 23, 2023, Officer Kevin Dave was responding to a drug overdose call when he hit and killed 23-year-old college student Jaahnavi Kandula while she was running in a crosswalk. The investigation into the incident found that Dave was driving upwards of 74 mph in a 25 mph zone and dashcam video shows Kandula entering a crosswalk running moments before the deadly impact.
In a letter to SPD, Dave was found to have violated several departmental policies during the incident. The investigation reportedly found that Dave had his lights on but not his emergency siren and that instead, he "chirped" the siren once at the intersection.
In the letter sent out on Monday, January 6th, SPD Sgt. Patrick Michaud said Dave's positive intent to respond to the call quickly does not "mitigate the poor decision caused that caused the loss of a human life and brought discredit to the Seattle Police Department." He also said that the case was "tragic on every level."
According to Michaud, Dave violated four policies during the incident: employees must adhere to laws, city policy, and department policy; officers shall modify their emergency response when appropriate; officers are responsible for the safe operation of their police vehicle; and officers use emergency lights for emergency response.
NBC News reported that SPD Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr decided to fire Dave after the Seattle Officer of Police Accountability concluded that he violated those four departmental policies. Rahr wrote, "I believe the officer did not intend to hurt anyone that night and that he was trying to get to a possible overdose victim as quickly as possible. However, I cannot accept the tragic consequences of his dangerous driving. His positive intent does not mitigate the poor decision that caused the loss of a human life and brought discredit to the Seattle Police Department."
In December 2024, Dave admitted to second-degree negligent driving and was able to keep his license if he paid a penalty of $5,000 and completed an eight-hour traffic safety course within one year. Dave had been with the department for four years. Michaud ended the letter with a reminder to other officers, "Do not lose sight of the danger that is created by excessive speed when responding to emergency calls."
In February 2024, King County prosecutors announced they would not be filing criminal charges against Dave, citing insufficient evidence for criminal charges. Retired former SPD Chief Carmen Best said she is not surprised that termination was considered in this situation. She said, "Emergency vehicle driving is one of many trainings that the officers have to go through routinely and take refresher courses. Some of the things I know would be considered would be the time of day, the lighting, the weather conditions, the acoustics of using your emergency equipment in downtown."
Rahr acknowledged that her decision to fire Dave might be met with some displeasure. In a departmentwide email she wrote, "I understand and accept that many will not agree with this decision. This case is tragic on every level and will have lifelong implications for everyone involved."
According to KING5, on January 23, 2023, Officer Kevin Dave was responding to a drug overdose call when he hit and killed 23-year-old college student Jaahnavi Kandula while she was running in a crosswalk. The investigation into the incident found that Dave was driving upwards of 74 mph in a 25 mph zone and dashcam video shows Kandula entering a crosswalk running moments before the deadly impact.
In a letter to SPD, Dave was found to have violated several departmental policies during the incident. The investigation reportedly found that Dave had his lights on but not his emergency siren and that instead, he "chirped" the siren once at the intersection.
In the letter sent out on Monday, January 6th, SPD Sgt. Patrick Michaud said Dave's positive intent to respond to the call quickly does not "mitigate the poor decision caused that caused the loss of a human life and brought discredit to the Seattle Police Department." He also said that the case was "tragic on every level."
According to Michaud, Dave violated four policies during the incident: employees must adhere to laws, city policy, and department policy; officers shall modify their emergency response when appropriate; officers are responsible for the safe operation of their police vehicle; and officers use emergency lights for emergency response.
NBC News reported that SPD Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr decided to fire Dave after the Seattle Officer of Police Accountability concluded that he violated those four departmental policies. Rahr wrote, "I believe the officer did not intend to hurt anyone that night and that he was trying to get to a possible overdose victim as quickly as possible. However, I cannot accept the tragic consequences of his dangerous driving. His positive intent does not mitigate the poor decision that caused the loss of a human life and brought discredit to the Seattle Police Department."
In December 2024, Dave admitted to second-degree negligent driving and was able to keep his license if he paid a penalty of $5,000 and completed an eight-hour traffic safety course within one year. Dave had been with the department for four years. Michaud ended the letter with a reminder to other officers, "Do not lose sight of the danger that is created by excessive speed when responding to emergency calls."
In February 2024, King County prosecutors announced they would not be filing criminal charges against Dave, citing insufficient evidence for criminal charges. Retired former SPD Chief Carmen Best said she is not surprised that termination was considered in this situation. She said, "Emergency vehicle driving is one of many trainings that the officers have to go through routinely and take refresher courses. Some of the things I know would be considered would be the time of day, the lighting, the weather conditions, the acoustics of using your emergency equipment in downtown."
Rahr acknowledged that her decision to fire Dave might be met with some displeasure. In a departmentwide email she wrote, "I understand and accept that many will not agree with this decision. This case is tragic on every level and will have lifelong implications for everyone involved."
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Comments
2025-01-09T17:37-0500 | Comment by: Michael
I hope the woman running was not wearing earphones, but he should have had his siren going, not chirping once. Maybe if so the runner would have heard and not entered the crosswalk. However, 74 in a 25 in a city does sound excessive either way.
2025-01-09T17:49-0500 | Comment by: Donald
Some law enforcement officers tend to be self-important and do not think beyond their exalted status. I've never been cited or arrested, but have encountered such in casual situations. Law enforcement officers that exhibit such behavior SHOULD be fired!
2025-01-09T19:55-0500 | Comment by: James
Namby Pamby copsuckers ...... Why don't ya lick the bugs off of his windshield while your at it ????