TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Police Department hosted its 28th Annual Tampa Police Memorial Run at Lykes Gaslight Park on Saturday.

This year's event included a special dedication known as the "Run for 32."

A total of 32 officers ran together, each wearing a memorial armband with the name of one of the 32 Tampa police officers killed in the line of duty in the agency's history. 

The first Tampa Police Memorial Run was held on Oct. 10, 1998, with more than 1,100 runners and walkers. In addition to the 5K run, 1-mile run and 1-mile walk, the event included a police helicopter flyover, food for participants, giveaways and officers rolling out the American flag while rappelling down the side of Tampa Police Department headquarters.

The last Tampa police officer killed in the line of duty was officer Jesse Madsen in March of 2021 after he was struck by a wrong way driver on I-275.

“For this department it was a heavy loss, but personally he was a dear friend,” said Tampa Police Department Major Eric DeFelice. “That’s who I’ll be running for in this event, and events like this not only bring awareness to the cause, but the money that is gained for the charity go back to help officers’ families when they are lost in the line of duty and help to fund a number of charitable events such as scholarships, etc.”

Those proceeds from the event will also benefit the Police Museum and Tampa Police Memorial Monument improvements.

That monument lists all 32 names of TPD officers killed in the line of duty. 

More than 800 runners and walkers registered to participate in the event.