A heroic police officer from Tampa, Florida is believed to have intentionally veered on to oncoming traffic to save others in a heroic act.
During these days where the calls for defunding the police and boycotting them are growing louder, a brave act by a police officer in Tampa, Florida is warming hearts everywhere.
Early Tuesday morning a 25-year-old from Colorado managed to get onto a freeway going the wrong way and began dodging cars. Calls were made, and a Tampa police officer arrived after driving along Interstate 275 and ended up hitting the wrong-way driver head-on.
Now it seems that Officer Jesse Madsen knowingly did the act to save strangers and ended up getting killed in the process. He was a husband and father of three who spent 16 years with the Tampa Police Department and was a U.S. veteran, a recipient of seven Life-Saving Awards from the Tampa Police Department.
REST IN PEACE: Officer Jesse Madsen was a husband and father of three who spent 16 years with the Tampa Police Department and was a U.S. veteran. He was killed in a wrong-way crash earlier this morning. MORE HERE: https://t.co/1z0Zg8CxUO pic.twitter.com/gYnqRZr4JV
— FOX 13 Tampa Bay (@FOX13News) March 9, 2021
The 45-year-old devoted father and dad who loved fishing with his kids is now gone after the head-on collision that took place early Tuesday morning.
“Just before 1:00 AM on Tuesday morning, Tampa Police began receiving calls about a white vehicle driving southbound in the northbound lanes of I275 at a high rate of speed and swerving through the lanes,” the city of Tampa said.
“Within a minute of the original call, the vehicle crashed into Officer Madsen’s police vehicle between the Hillsborough and Sligh Avenue exits. The impact killed both Jesse and the driver of the white sedan.”
“He earned our life-saving award seven times during his career,” Chief Brian Dugan said. “We have reason to believe that he had veered into this oncoming car to protect others. So when you look at someone who has earned seven life-saving awards, it’s no surprise that he would take such swift action and do this.”
Hundreds of police officers from TPD and surrounding agencies lined the streets to help escort Master Patrol Officer Jesse Madsen to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
#MayHeNeverBeForgottenPosted by Tampa Police Department on Tuesday, 9 March 2021
Madsen always wanted to be a police officer since he was 8 years old, now he leaves behind children ages 10, 12, and 16. “I don’t know really what to say other than he was extremely loved and was a very outgoing, strong, courageous guy,” Julia Madsen, his stepmother said. “He had the spirit of adventure in him from day one. He was always there for friends and family.”
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A memorial fund has been set up for the family. “They clearly are devastated,” Mayor Jane Castor said about Madsens.
ICYMI: Here is how you can donate to the family of MPO Jesse Madsen. https://t.co/Pg5SH7TRCK
— TampaPD (@TampaPD) March 10, 2021
“They are very, very thankful for the thoughts and prayers of the entire community.” Let’s keep this grieving family who just lost their father in our prayers and ask the Lord to give them the courage and strength they need at this time.
