TAMPA, Fla. – Five years ago today, Master Police Officer Jesse Madsen made a split-second decision on I-275 that saved lives but cost him his own. To mark the anniversary of that sacrifice, the City of Tampa is lighting its skyline in blue tonight, March 9, 2026. This tribute honors Madsen’s legacy and signals a new citywide commitment to remember every officer killed in the line of duty.
In the early morning hours of March 9, 2021, Madsen—a Marine combat veteran and father of three—spotted a driver heading the wrong way toward oncoming traffic. To prevent a high-speed collision with civilians, Madsen intentionally veered his patrol car into the path of the vehicle. He died in the crash, using his cruiser as a shield for the drivers behind him.
“Jesse Madsen gave his life so that others would have a tomorrow,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said. “Tonight, we light up our city to ensure his light, and the light of all our fallen heroes, never fades.”
While Madsen’s badge number, 507, was retired following his death, his influence remains a fixture within the department.
He was a nine-time recipient of the Life-Saving Award during his career, and his actions inspired the creation of the Jesse Madsen Lifesaving Award. So far, four Tampa officers have received the honor for acts of courage in the face of danger.
“MPO Jesse Madsen did not just stand between our community and harm, he intentionally faced it so that others could go home,” Chief Lee Bercaw said. “His sacrifice is the definitive standard of what it means to protect.”
The city has announced that moving forward, key landmarks will be illuminated in blue on the “End of Watch” anniversary for each of the 32 officers listed on the department’s Monument to Fallen Officers.
For tonight’s tribute to Madsen, several major sites will be lit up, including Old City Hall, the Tampa Riverwalk, the Sulphur Springs Water Tower, and the Curtis Hixon Park fountains. The Brorein Street, Kennedy Boulevard, Fortune Street, and Platt Street bridges will also join the memorial display.
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