TAMPA -- The city of Tampa bids farewell to an officer who gave his life to stop a wrong way driver.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor told mourners, it was just one of many acts of heroism by Master Patrol Officer Jesse Madsen.
"His career is full of acts of bravery... stopping a home invasion, taking guns off the street. driving into a riotous crowd to extract a gravely injured deputy," Castor said.
Through tears, Madsen's widow Danielle described Madsen as someone who "loved his children fiercely, loved everyone fiercely, and helped everyone fiercely."
Madsen's funeral at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz drew law enforcement from all over the state.
Madsen, a 17-year veteran of TPD and before that, a Marine, an Ohio cop and later an Army reservist, received the city's lifesaving medal eight times.
He is the third Tampa Bay area law enforcement officer to die in an on duty traffic crash this year, after Hillsborough Corporal (later Sergeant) Brian Lavigne and Pinellas Deputy Michael Magli.
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