Patrick Signs Bill to Appoint Sean Collier to Somerville Police Department
Sean Collier, who authorities say was killed by the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects, will soon realize his dream of becoming a Somerville police officer. Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill Tuesday allowing the city of Somerville to appoint Collier postumously to the city’s police force, according to WHDH. Collier, a Somerville resident, was serving as an MIT police officer when, on April 18, he was allegedly shot to death by the suspects in the Boston Marathon Bombing. Jackie Rossetti, a spokesperson for the city of Somerville, said Tuesday afternoon the city was planning a ceremony for Collier’s appointment to the Somerville Police Department, but no date had been set. She said the city was in the process of working with Collier’s family to make those plans. According to WHDH, Somerville State. Sen. Patricia Jehlen, who co-sponsored the home rule petition allowing the postumous appointment, said, “While nothing we do can bring Collier back, this posthumous appointment is a meaningful way to honor his memory and brave service.” Somerville State. Rep. Denise Provost also co-sponsored the bill, according to WHDH. Collier was working toward becoming a Somerville police officer, and he would have been sworn onto the force on June 3. Read the WHDH article here. More Police, Residents Attend Officer Sean Collier’s Wake Thousands Mourn Sean Collier at MIT Bill to Honor Sean Collier Coming Closer to Reality SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Categories: Arrests Tags: Appoint, Bill, Collier, department, patrick, Police, Sean, Signs, Somerville
MIT Officer Collier Laid to Rest in Peabody
More than 30 American flags, veterans from across Massachusetts and Connecticut, Peabody police officers and state troopers solemnly greeted the motorcade bearing the body of Sean Collier as it arrived in Peabody this afternoon. Collier, a 26-year-old MIT police officer who was allegedly shot and killed by the two Boston Marathon bombing suspects on April 18, was laid to rest at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery. The motorcade, which included three departments Collier was affiliated with — MIT, Cambridge and Somerville, accompanied Collier’s family from the site of a memorial service at MIT earlier today. That service was attended by thousands of police officers and Vice President Joe Biden. Peabody police were not involved in the graveside service, but provided security for the site, along with state and federal agents. And security was tight — only authorized visitors or members of the burial party were allowed in during the duration of the service. Cambridge, Somerville and MIT police were part of the private burial service with family members. Officers on security and traffic detail said the Secret Service were deployed in Cambridge for Biden’s visit, but not present in Peabody. Due to the heightened state of security in the Boston area, the entire cemetery was swept for any explosives prior to the burial service. Police officers on security detail outside the cemetery said they did not know why Puritan Lawn was chosen as Collier’s burial site. Collier, a Salem State graduate, was a Wilmington native and a Somerville resident at the time of his death. He did work for a time as a security officer at the Northshore Mall, according to local police. Peabody Police Capt. Joe Berardino said all visitors to the cemetery during the day were escorted at all times by officers. At approximately 2:30 p.m., about 20 mintues before the motorcade arrived, visitors were asked to leave for an hour for security reasons. As for the flag-waving civilians standing at attention, they were all members of the Patriot Guard Riders, a nationwide volunteer organization that seeks to support the families of fallen soldiers and officers and help shield them from protesters, specifically those from the Westboro Baptist Church. Kevin Ridley, a military veteran from Medfield, said many of the Guard are Vietnam veterans, who experienced a great deal of animosity when they returned home. They hope to shield today’s veterans from that. “We wanted to make sure what happened to us, doesn’t happen to them,” he said. South End Patch
Live Blog: Memorial Service for Sean Collier Begins at Noon
Sean Collier will be remembered at an MIT memorial service at noon on Wednesday. Collier, who was killed Thursday, was laid to rest on Tuesday morning. Police believe the Boston Marathon bombing suspects shot Collier as he responded to an unrelated robbery. Patch will provide updates throughout the memorial service. We welcome you to add your condolences and memories of Sean in the chat above once the live chat begins. South End Patch
Road Closures, Details For Collier Service
Massachusetts State Police and Cambridge Police announced several road closures around Cambridge as a result of the Wednesday memorial service for MIT Police Officer Sean Collier on the MIT campus. Vassar Street: Closed beginning at 6 a.m. on Wednesday between Audrey Street and Massachusetts Avenue. Massachusetts Avenue: Closed from Albany Streeet toward Boston beginning at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Memorial Drive: Closed beginning at 12 a.m. on Wednesday between Massachusetts Avenue and the B.U. Bridge. Massachusetts Avenue Bridge into Cambridge closed beginning at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. “These road closures are going to have a major impact on traffic in the city,” police said in a statement Tuesday. “Police are asking residents to plan ahead, seek alternate routes, and use public transportation whenever possible.” Further information on traffic will be posted on Cambridge Police’s website and updates can found on Twitter by following @CambridgePolice and @MassStatePolice. In addition, Massachusetts State Police tweeted the Wednesday service will not be open to the public. According to police, the service will be for “public safety personnel, MIT family, dignitaries only.” The service starts at 12 p.m. at Briggs Field. Vice President Joe Biden will be in attendance. More details for attendees are available from Cambridge Police here. South End Patch
Somber Funeral Held in Stoneham for Officer Sean Collier
The outpouring of support for slain Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police Officer Sean Collier continued on Tuesday morning at Saint Patrick’s Parish in Stoneham as police officers and loved ones filed into the church to pay their respects during a private funeral. Collier’s wake was held on Monday at a nearby funeral home, with officers forming a long line then as well to say goodbye to their fellow officer. Support for Collier will continue on Wednesday at MIT when a larger memorial service will take place. According to reports, Vice President Joe Biden will be in attendance during the service, which begins at 12 p.m. South End Patch
Crowd at Vigil for Late Officer Vows to be ‘Collier Strong’
On Saturday night, residents said goodbye to one of their own and police officers from across the state saluted the bravery of a member of the thin blue line who made the ultimate sacrifice. Slain Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police Officer Sean Collier’s body was brought down Church Street past thousands who lined the street surrounding Wilmington Town Common and waved American flags as a part of an emotional goodbye. Collier, a Wilmington native and Somerville resident, was honored during a candlelight vigil following the procession. Members of the Collier family attended the event, and sobbed at times as their loved one was recalled. “(Sean) is such an amazing man. A better man than I will ever be. And he was taken from us too early,” said Sean’s brother, Andrew Collier. “Sean is not in that casket. Sean will continue to live on and his legacy will continue to live on. You all will remember Sean, you will all talk about that time the police officer was tragically killed. And you will remember that and continue to do good. And because of that these terrorists will never win. They will never break down the United States, they will never break down Boston and they will never break down Wilmington.” South End Patch
‘Rough Days Ahead’ as Region, Nation Grieve Officer Sean Collier
Thursday night was the final shift for Sean Collier. But the waning moments of the 26-year-old’s life will never be forgotten. “His life was short,” said Somerville Deputy Police Chief Paul Upton. “But his impact was great.” The Somerville resident and Wilmington native was identified on Friday as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police Officer shot and killed on Thursday in his police car. His death led to the manhunt for two Boston Marathon bombing suspects, one who was killed and a second who was captured hiding in a boat behind a Watertown home. But his death also united communities from throughout Massachusetts and far beyond as residents remember a man who heroically lost his life during a week of horror following Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings. A Dream Nearly Fulfilled Everything Collier did in his professional life was with one goal in mind – to protect and serve. “His dream was to become a police officer,” said Upton, who supervised Collier in Somerville. “He wanted to be out there helping community, enforcing the law and serving the people. That was his mission and he absolutely loved it.” Collier worked as an auxiliary police officer for the Somerville Police Department from 2006 until 2009. He volunteered hundreds of hours monitoring playgrounds, schools and special events. While serving in that role, Collier also applied for and was chosen for a job in the department as a records clerk. Quickly, his colleagues realized his talent for working with computers. Collier was selected to create the Somerville Police Department’s website, which is still used today. He also got the department’s Facebook and Twitter pages up and running and assisted the Information Technology officer with computer related issues. But that wasn’t enough for Collier. He also asked to self-sponsor himself in the Police Academy so that when a job opening came up in law enforcement, he could be selected without having to then complete academy training. The department backed him in his request, and Collier scored near the top of his class. In January 2012, Collier was offered the position at MIT and developed a sparkling reputation within his new department. But he remained on the radar within the Somerville Police Department. In June of this year, Upton said the town planned to offer Collier a full-time position as a Somerville police officer. Heroic in Death When Collier suited up for duty on Thursday night, it was impossible for him to know that it would be his final patrol. Sean Collier was ambushed in his police cruiser by two men who were the center of a manhunt that terrorized […]