After physique digicam footage launched this week displaying Seattle Police Officer Daniel Oderer saying that the lifetime of a girl killed by one other officer “has restricted worth,” the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG) stated Friday that there are “extra particulars and nuances.” “For photographs whereas understanding “The sound is terrifying.”
In a press release posted on the social media platform, X, previously Twitter SPOG, the biggest police commerce union within the Northwest, wrote: She understands the anger surrounding the viral video Which took over the very insensitive feedback Oderer made concerning Janavi Kandola’s dying.
In physique digicam footage launched by the Seattle Police Division on Monday, Oderer, a SPOG vice chairman, is seen laughing after a marked patrol automobile pushed by Officer Kevin Dave Kandola was struck and killed in a crosswalk on Jan. 23. Based on a police investigation report, Dave was driving 74 mph on his strategy to a “precedence one name” when he collided with Kandola, 23. Oderer was tasked with evaluating whether or not Dave was impaired.
Oderer’s feedback about Kandola have since sparked outrage as some Seattle residents protested Thursday night time on the intersection the place the deadly crash occurred to demand justice for Kandola. The King County Prosecutor’s Workplace is conducting a forensic overview of the incident, the Related Press reported.
Getty Pictures
The Consulate Basic of India in San Francisco (CGISF) is one in every of many who took to social media to specific their horror surrounding Kandola’s dying.
“Latest studies, together with within the media, in regards to the dealing with of Ms. Janavi Kandola’s dying in a highway accident in Seattle in January are deeply regarding. Now we have vigorously addressed the matter with native authorities in Seattle and the state of Washington in addition to senior officers in Washington DC to “conduct a radical investigation and take motion in opposition to these concerned on this tragic case.” The Consulate and Embassy will proceed to observe this matter carefully with all related authorities.” CGISF wrote on Wednesday.
In its assertion Friday, SPOG apologized to the Kandola household and stated it maintains confidence that the civilian-led police accountability system often known as the Workplace of Police Accountability (OPA) will conduct a radical and truthful investigation.
“With out context, this audio recording is horrific and has no place in civil society. It dishonors the career of legislation enforcement, the repute of all Seattle Cops and paints Seattle in a horrible mild. We’re deeply saddened and devastated by the household of this sufferer,” SPOG stated in a press release. Janavi Kandola is as soon as once more in a very tragic scenario as they proceed to mourn her dying. “We’re really sorry.”
Nonetheless, SPOG additionally famous that the physique digicam footage solely captures Auderer’s facet of the dialog, saying: “Some viral movies of police actions shared by the media fail to totally clarify the story/context. This Seattle police video is an instance Nonetheless, there are a lot of particulars and nuances that haven’t but been introduced.”
SPOG additionally launched a press release saying Auderer wrote to OPA Director Gino Betts in August after being informed of the video’s existence. SPOG stated the officer wrote the assertion “immediately from reminiscence and with out the flexibility to view the video.”
In his assertion, Oderer stated he understood that with out context the remark may very well be interpreted as horrific and impolite, however he meant the remark to be “sarcastic.”
“I responded one thing like: ‘She’s 26, what’s she price, who cares.’ “I meant the remark to be a mockery of the attorneys — I used to be imitating what the lawyer assigned to barter the case would say and being sarcastic to specific that they should not provide you with loopy arguments to scale back the fee,” he wrote.
Newsweek I’ve reached out to the Seattle Police Officers Affiliation for added remark by way of electronic mail.
Regardless of SPOG’s assertion, backlash in opposition to Auderer and the Seattle Police Division continues as many imagine the context by which the feedback have been made doesn’t excuse Auderer’s feedback or make mild of somebody’s dying.
“There isn’t any context by which this video wouldn’t be terrifying. There isn’t any excuse for any of that.” One X user wrote In a put up responding to SPOG’s assertion.
As for the Kandola household, they beforehand informed NBC Information that they “firmly imagine that each human life is priceless and can’t be taken frivolously, particularly throughout a tragic loss.”
Up to date 9/16/23, 3:02 PM ET: This text has been up to date with extra info.