Glendale Officer Dies in Motorcycle Crash on Loop 303

PEORIA, Ariz. — The Glendale Police Department is mourning the loss of Officer Jesse Rodriguez, who was killed in a motorcycle accident early Thursday morning on the Loop 303 near Happy Valley Parkway.

The crash occurred before 7 a.m. when Officer Rodriguez, who was off-duty at the time, lost control of his motorcycle in the median. The Arizona Department of Public Safety confirmed that no other vehicles were involved in the incident.

Rodriguez, 27, had been with the Glendale Police Department since August 2022, shortly after beginning his career in the city a year earlier with its water services department. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserves as a drill sergeant.

He leaves behind a two-year-old daughter. In a statement on Facebook, the Glendale Police Department expressed their condolences: “Although Jesse’s time with us was cut short, his impact will last well beyond his years of service. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and the young child he leaves behind. Rest in peace, Officer Rodriguez.”

Funeral and memorial arrangements are currently underway, according to department officials. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.

In a related note, earlier that morning, another motorcycle crash occurred on westbound Interstate 10 near Elliot Road, causing significant traffic delays. Arizona Department of Public Safety officials did not provide details about that incident or any potential injuries.