Seattle’s interim police chief on Monday fired the officer who fatally struck a 23-year-old graduate student from India with his patrol vehicle in January 2023 while responding to a call. The case ignited outrage and attracted widespread attention after another officer was recorded on his body-worn camera making callous remarks about the death of Jaahnavi Kandula.

The Seattle Police Department had a net gain of one officer in 2024, breaking a four year streak of a net loss of officers. City leaders have identified the need to boost staffing within the Seattle Police Department after a mass exodus of officers leaving the force since 2020.

A Seattle police officer who struck and killed a graduate student from India with his vehicle while responding to an overdose call in 2023 has been fired.