US policeman who joked about India woman's death fired

A US police officer has been dismissed from his position after making insensitive comments about the death of an Indian student. Jaahnavi Kandula, a graduate student at Northeastern University in Seattle, was killed last year when she was struck by a police vehicle while crossing a street near her university. Officer Daniel Auderer, who responded to the incident, was recorded on his body camera laughing and saying that her life was of 'limited value'. He suggested that the city should 'just write a cheque' for her death. The footage of his comments was widely circulated on social media, sparking outrage. The Seattle Police Department described his remarks as 'vile' and 'callous'. On Wednesday, interim chief Sue Rahr announced through a department-wide email that Auderer had been terminated. She stated that his actions had brought shame to the entire department and the police profession. Rahr added that his 'cruel and callous laughter' had inflicted pain on Kandula's family and that his good reputation among colleagues and years of service could not outweigh the harm caused. The Office of Police Accountability, which investigates police misconduct, had recommended his termination for unprofessional conduct and bias. The officer who struck Kandula with his patrol vehicle was reportedly driving at 74mph (119km/h), causing her to be thrown more than 100ft (30m).