'Rest In Peace Brave Heroes': Roads Designated To Fallen Heroes

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — A few Tampa Bay roads were dedicated in honor of three local fallen law enforcement officers by Gov. Ron DeSantis Friday when he signed Senate Bill 1716 at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office during a commemoration to the heroes.

“This past year, Deputy Michael Magli, Sergeant Brian LaVigne and Master Patrol Officer Jesse Madsen lost their lives while protecting others,” Governor Ron DeSantis said to the fallen deputies' families. “Today we commemorated three heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their communities. Michael Magli, Brian LaVigne and Jesse Madsen were the type of men we need in law enforcement; the type of men we all hope will be there when we call for help. Serving in law enforcement is a noble calling and deserves nothing less than our full support and respect.”

The bill designates County Road 611 between Keystone Road and Forelock Road in Pinellas County as Deputy Michael J. Magli Memorial Road; State Road 60 between Interstate-75 and Phillip Lee Boulevard in Hillsborough County as Sergeant Brian LaVigne Road; and Interstate-275 between East Sligh Avenue and East Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Hillsborough County as Officer Jesse Madsen Memorial Highway.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister and Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan were also in attendance at the gathering.

"May the families who travel these roads know the bravery and heroism these men showed to keep the people of Tampa Bay safe," Chris Sprowls, a speaker, said.

Sergeant Brian LaVigne, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Sergeant Brian LaVigne was employed with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office since 1990. He was tragically killed Jan. 11, 2021, when he was one shift away from retirement. He died when a suspect he and his colleagues were trying to stop during a high-speed chase intentionally rammed his car into LaVagine's patrol car in Brandon on Lumsden Road. Sheriff Chad Chronister posthumously promoted LaVigne to master corporal at his funeral. He was 54 years old when he died, and left behind a wife and two children.

Deputy Michael Magli, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office

Deputy Michael J. Magli, who served with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office for eight years, was killed Feb. 17, 2021, in the line of duty as he tried to stop a drunk driver who had been leading deputies on a high-speed chase in unincorporated Tarpon Springs along East Lake Road. Magli had placed stop sticks along the road to stop the driver at about 4:15 p.m. When the suspect got to that area, he lost control of his truck, and it flipped over onto Magli. He was the first deputy at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office to die in the line of duty. He is survived by a wife and two daughters.

Master Patrol Officer Jesse Madsen, Tampa Police Department

Master Patrol Officer Jessee Madsen was a 16-year veteran of the Tampa Police Department, and was a decorated officer with a seven-time recipient of police life-saving awards. He was killed March 9, 2021, when he veered his police cruiser into the path of a wrong-way driver on Insterstate-75 to prevent the driver from crashing into other vehicles on the interstate. He was a United States Marine combat veteran, and had served as an officer in Ohio before he transferred to Tampa. He is survived by his wife and three children.

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• Pre-Meditated Murder Charge In Officer's Death: State Attorney
• Pinellas Deputy Killed After Being Struck By Driver Under Pursuit
• Tampa Police Officer Died Protecting Others: Chief