Wilmington Vigil to Keep MIT Officer's Memory Alive

WILMINGTON, MA -- Chaos erupted throughout Massachusetts in the hours following Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police Officer Sean Collier’s death on Thursday night. Now on Saturday night in Wilmington, Collier’s life will be honored in mourning silence during a candlelight vigil.

Event organizers spread the word through social media that friends, family and strangers alike are invited to attend the vigil on Wilmington Town Common beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Wilmington Police Chief Michael Begonis said that residents coming from out of town can take the MBTA Commuter Rail Lowell Line to the town. The stop arrives on Main Street and Town Common is a short walk away.

Collier was shot and killed on Thursday night while in his MIT police cruiser. The men involved in Collier's death were the suspects wanted in connection with Monday's Boston Marathon bombings. Following a manhunt that lasted for nearly 24 hours, one man was killed and another taken into custody.

According to Somerville Deputy Police Chief Paul Upton, the Somerville Police Department will be well-represented at Saturday’s vigil in Wilmington. Upton supervised Collier when the 26-year-old was working as an auxiliary police officer beginning in 2006.

“As time goes on, we will all find ways to keep Sean’s name and memory alive,” said Upton, who said Somerville a group officers will likely be bused in for the vigil.

Upton said Collier’s dream was to be a police officer. And it was a dream Collier was likely to fulfil in June he was to be offered a position within the department, according to Upton.

Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone said he was returning home Thursday from the city’s candlelight vigil honoring the victims of Monday’s attacks when he received the harrowing news of Collier’s death.

“It’s been certainly several days of shocking, sad and surreal moments,” said Curtatone. “Now we’re all taking a deep breath and trying to assess the personal emotional loss that we’ve all endured in the last several days.”

Check back with Patch for more local reaction to Collier's death, and for coverage of Saturday's candlelight vigil. Residents are also encouraged to share their memories of Collier in the comments section below.