Former Shaker Police Officer Killed In Car Crash

TAMPA, FL — A former Shaker Heights police officer was killed in a wrong-way crash in Florida on Tuesday.

Officer Jesse Madsen, who now serves with the Tampa Police Department, swerved his cruiser into the path of a wrong-way driver to protect others, Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan told 10 Tampa Bay.

Madsen had received seven Life-Saving awards from his department and Dugan said he was not surprised the officer would take swift action to protect others.

The accused wrong-way driver was also killed in the crash, Dugan said.

Madsen is survived by a wife and three children.

Madsen was a Shaker Heights native. He joined the Marine Corps and, when he returned from service, joined Shaker Heights police. He was an officer in his hometown from 2002 to 2006.

"By all accounts from those who worked with him, he was an excellent, hard-working police officer and even better man!" a Shaker Heights Police Department spokesperson told Patch.

Department officials said their thoughts and prayers are with the Madsen family.