MIT police officer Sean Collier, 27, was shot to death April 18, allegedly by the Boston Marathon bombers.
Sean Collier dreamed of becoming a Somerville police officer. That dream was cut short April 18, when Collier was shot and killed while working as an MIT patrol officer, allegedly by Boston Marathon bombing suspects Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
City leaders and Beacon Hill lawmakers fulfilled Collier’s dream Tuesday, as Gov. Deval Patrick signed a state House of Representatives bill allowing Collier to be posthumously appointed to the Somerville Police Department.
“Officer Collier was a true hero and this deserving designation is a small token to honor his memory and his sacrifices,” Patrick said in a statement.
Collier had been set to be sworn in as a Somerville officer on June 3, according to Mayor Joseph Curtatone.
“Sean Collier was a dedicated civilian employee in the Somerville Police Department, an honorable member of the MIT Police Department and a tremendous Somerville resident,” Curtatone said. “He gave so much of himself and his time to our department these last six years, and I’m honored to bestow this honor upon him.”
Law enforcement officers from across the U.S. joined Vice President Joe Biden and MIT students at an on-campus memorial service for Collier last month. The university is establishing a scholarship fund and award in Collier’s honor.
Follow Metro Boston on Twitter: @MetroBos
