SEATTLE — The Seattle police officer fired over insensitive comments he made in 2023 about a woman's death filed a $20 million tort claim against the city.
Daniel Auderer alleges that the Seattle Police Department "leaked false information concerning wrongfully initiated disciplinary proceedings," as well as personal information, before being fired in July. His claim alleges it was "retaliatory at least" due to his union leadership.
Auderer alleges he was wrongfully terminated. His reputation was also harmed and he's suffered from "mental pain and suffering," his claim states. The claim was filed July 25.
The claim will be investigated by the Department of Finance and Administrative Services, with assistance from the City Attorney's Office.
On Jan. 23, 2023, Auderer was dispatched to assist with a fatal crash involving another Seattle police officer and 23-year-old Jaahnavi Kandula. Kandula was struck and killed while crossing the street in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood.
The officer who hit Kandula with his police cruiser was responding to an emergency call at the time. A traffic infraction was later filed against him.
On body camera footage, Auderer was captured on video saying, "but she is dead" and laughing while on the phone.
"She was 26 anyway," Auderer is heard saying in the video, misstating her age. "She had limited value."
He later wrote a letter explaining he was not making fun of Kandula's death and instead mocking the callousness of the legal system.
The comments sparked public outrage and he was re-assigned.
Auderer's chain of command and the Office of Police Accountability found he acted unprofessionally and announced he would face the highest disciplinary range.
Interim police Chief Sue Rahr said the "impact" of Auderer's actions were "so devastating that it cannot be mitigated by his intent to keep his conversation private."
Internal police sources previously told KING 5 that Rahr was considering a 30-day suspension for Auderer, which would have fallen under the appropriate disciplinary range. In the end, sources say she went with termination so as to not appear too lenient.