Seattle officer who joked about killed student to host workshop at national conference

SEATTLE - Daniel Auderer, a Seattle Police officer who was caught joking about the death of a University of Washington student who was struck and killed by another cop, is one of two officers from the Seattle Police Department who will speak at a national traffic safety conference in Washington, D.C.

Auderer was reccommended to be terminated from his position after bodycam audio captured him making insensitive comments about the death of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old student who was killed last year when SPD officer Kevin Dave hit her in a crosswalk while driving 74 miles an hour.

Auderer was reassigned to low-profile duties while the Office of Police Accountability investigated multiple complaints against him.

Despite Auderer's notoriety, he plans to present at the IACP Impaired Driving & Traffic Safety Conference, put on by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He is one of two Seattle officers attending the conference, with the other being Tom Heller.

According to the conference's program, Auderer will lead a workshop called "Becoming a Pickup Artist: How to Get More Out of Interviews." It focuses on police interviews with witnesses, victims, and suspects, and how to get as much accurate information as possible.

"From the roadside to the interrogation room, learn how to use human memory, perception, and motivation to improve investigations," the panel description promises.

After a spokesperson with SPD said there would be no "further updates or information concerning Auderer," SPD's Office of Public Affairs released the following statement regarding Auderer’s D.C. appearance:

"Daniel Auderer is not representing SPD at the IACP conference, and we are not covering the costs associated with the event if he chooses to attend. Furthermore, SPD has never received a travel training request from Officer Auderer."

Editors note: FOX 13 Seattle received a statement from SPD at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 3. The article has been updated.