Hi Sean-- thanks for always watching over us. I've had a hard time saying good bye....Namaste

#171
12/19/2013

My condolences to all the MIT department & Sean's Friends & Family!!! A brave police officer who gave his life to protect others - Thanks Officer - The police family nationwide mourns your loss everyday!!! ]

Loyalty and devotion leads to bravery & Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice.

RIP SEAN COLLIER!!!!!
Gone but will NEVER be forgotten!!!! NEVER!

Shawn M
Mirvilleshawn@yahoo.com
12/18/2013

On November 3,2013 at the N.Y.C.marathon i wore the Boston Run To Remember memoral bib to honor Officer Sean Collier 179. Many Massachusetts runners said hello during our run.

Detective Robert Leopold N.Y.P.D. / NYPD Running Club
bobby070263@gmail.com
11/4/2013

Good night, sweet dreams, Sean. Thank you for your service to all of us at MIT.

Sally L.
10/31/2013

It has taken me a while to write this. I first met Sean the first week he started as an officer at MIT. I was still working for IS&T at the time and was traveling on my electric scooter to a client appointment in BCS when I rode by Sean and Captain John DiFava at STATA. What I remembered most from the encounter was how curious he was about the scooter I was using to get to my appointments across campus. I remember a very congenial, curious, and friendly person who was eager to know the people in the community he was serving. I remember him telling me that seeing new technology like the one I was using was one of the reasons he was with the MIT police. Most police officers I have had the privilege of meeting have either instinctively, or as a matter of training, tended to be on the side of separation from the civilian community. Many seem to be more comfortable choosing to interact as little as possible with members of the community they are sworn to protect. Not Sean. I had one great encounter with a young officer who made a lasting impression on this IT professional. I still fondly remember thinking to myself if more police officers were like Sean, our world would be a much more awesome place. He was a member of our community. He was one of us. And we miss him.

We lost a wonderful person 6 months ago. I salute Officer Collier and the people who played a role in his life to foster such a wonderful soul.

Albert Wang
wangal@mit.edu
10/21/2013

My husband and I met him in Hull a couple of years ago when he was a summer cop there. Why a nice young man. We spoke about being police officers in NJ, and how he was working hard to get picked up someplace full time. Such a senseless crime. But he died doing the job he loved. Had he lived, he would have excelled in his job.

Lisa Griffin
9/23/2013

RIP Officer Collier

Jonathan, United Kingdom
9/22/2013

The MIT Police have lost a great person. I was at MIT PD yesterday and all of the memories and emotions came flooding back to me. Sean, your family and your brothers at the MIT PD are always in our hearts and minds.

MIT 179 will never be forgotten!

Bob Ankenbauer- Somerville PD
rankenbauer@police.somerville.ma.us
9/21/2013

You are still in our thoughts, every day.

Tricia Rosanio
prosanio@aol.com
9/17/2013

I drove down Vassar St. yesterday and the setting was so similar to the time you were talking to be on my crosswalk detail and a guy almost hit me so you immediatley ran his plate and followed him down Vassar. Thanks for looking out that day and always! You are missed everyday!!!!!

Colleague
8/29/2013

Hey MIT PD. We see you every day and are rooting for you. I volunteered for and ran in Run to Remember to help heal but it's just so sad and heartbreaking today, worse than the day we found out. To Sean, his family, and PD brothers and sisters I don't know how to expressed my condolences. But I am so proud to live in Somerville now that Sean has a Somerville PD badge.
Hang in there guys. We're all in it together in Kendall square, one day at a time, rooting for MIT PD.

8/11/2013

2 years ago I met Sean. He adopted my cat from me through a Craigslist ad. My wife and I were overwhelmed with a dog and a new baby so had to put the cat 'ninja' up for adoption. Sean responded to the ad and him and I emailed each other a few times back and forth about caring for the animal. Sean was taking care of a family cat that was 19 when it passed and so he wanted to care for another cat. I live 40 minutes west of city and Sean came to my house and we had a short conversation. He told me that he was in training at police academy and was going to be a Sommerville police officer some day. He was very excited to see and take care of Ninja, he left my house about 15 minutes later. I found Sean's email the other day and had forgotten the day he came to my house. I will not forget you Sean and neither will Ninja. RIP

Dave
Devenspainting@verizon.net
7/18/2013

Thank you for your service brother. You are not in vain.

Zac F.
7/10/2013

I am so sorry to hear about your loss and I would like to offer you my condolences. I can understand your frustrations and pains in your heart with this world and why we should have hope because I used to feel the same way. But keep in mind that God is always there to keep us going and He will never leave us especially in times like this.
Cathy,
Obituarieshelp.org

Cathy Miller
cathy.miller@obituarieshelp.org
7/7/2013

Rest in Peace Officer Sean Collier. You are now joined with your 19,000 brothers in Blue who's names are permanently carved on the Memorial Walls in Judiciary Square in Washington D.C. On August 5, 2013 you will be remembered and recognized by the Officer Harold L. Vitale Memorial Fund, Inc. at a gathering at our Memorial golf tournament held in Officer Vitale's honor (EOW 6/18/85, Saugus PD, Badge #17) some 27 years after his death. He is not forgotten and you will not be forgotten. We thank you for your service and sacrifice. You actions and your professionalism remind us all about the dangers of the job, and you also remind us why freedom is not free. Our condolences to your family. You are a true American Hero. Thank you. Well done Officer Collier, well done. The members of the Officer Vitale Memorial Fund.

Les Vitale, President Officer Harold L. Vitale Memorial Fund, Inc
7/4/2013

As I sit here in the station, I often think you're going to come busting through these doors following a construction detail -- to make sure you're on time for roll call -- like you had done so many times before. You will never be forgotten, Sean. Never.
RIP #179

A colleague/friend
7/3/2013

Still thinking about you. We will not forget you!

MIT Police
6/14/2013

My deepest sympathies for the loss of your son, brother, and friend, Sean Collier.

As a member of the MIT community, I was shocked and deeply saddened by the events of April 18th, but even more so with the discovery that Sean's death hit closer to home than I had realized. Sean was one of our dance students and a member of the Boston Lindy Hop community. He frequently stopped by the MIT Lindy Hop Wednesday dances on his shifts and decided to sign up for the April Beginner Swing series at our studio to learn Lindy Hop so he could participate more fully.

Even though he was just starting to be involved in our dance community, we all felt a loss at his passing, and a steal jam, one of our dance traditions, was held in his honor at the weekly dance that Friday. I never met Sean, but hearing stories of his kindness and joy for life, knowing that our paths would have crossed eventually, made me feel a deep loss that I would never be able to know this incredible man.

Sean made the ultimate sacrifice to protect his MIT family, and as an MIT staff member and alumna who has experienced many threats to our campus over the years, I am eternally grateful for Sean and all of our MIT officers. I know they hardly ever receive thanks for the selfless service they give to all of us. Thank you. Thank you for always protecting us.

Amanda
6/8/2013

It is such a tragedy to see a young man like Sean gunned down. My sincere sympathy to his family, may he Rest in Peace. I am wondering if Sean had an Irish background, if so where in Ireland did his parents come from. I was a Collier before I married. God Bless, Betty

Elizabeth Burke
bettyburke10@gmail.com
6/5/2013

My condolences to the Collier and MIT Police families. Sean’s ultimate sacrifice embodies the risks that the MIT Police (and other law-enforcement officers) take to create a safe environment for us on the MIT campus, allowing us to do what we do. Rest in peace, Sean! You will not be forgotten.

shardul
shardul@mit.edu
5/30/2013

My deepest sympathy to the Collier family. My sister Eileen Mello worked as a nurse for several years with Sean's mother when Sean was a little boy and now our whole family is wearing Collier Strong t-shirts with pride. I remember seeing Sean one night when he was walking on his rounds at MIT. I also saw an MIT police car by the Stata Center earlier that Thursday when Sean was killed. I remember thinking how I felt protected that the MIT police were watching out for us after the Marathon bombings. He protected us. Thank you.

Mary Agnes Mullowney
mamullow@mit.edu
5/23/2013

I have made a contribution to honor Sean Collier to : Search Dog Foundation Headquarters
501 E. Ojai Ave.
Ojai, CA 93023,
Here is part of my letter :

" It is once again with a heavy heart that I write to you to send a donation to honor the memories of 2 people – The first a dear friend of mine, and second , Sean Collier, the MIT officer who was killed after the Boston marathon bombing........
Seeing the bomb sniffing dogs a month ago and the search dogs at work just this week in Oklahoma makes me think of [my friend], and also the dedication of a first responder such as Sean Collier, someone I did not know at all. I trust they would be touched by my gesture.

Sincerely,

M Denaro "

M Denaro Marblehead MA
5/22/2013

I just want to say thanks. As an MIT graduate, I know the importance of the work that you do, and how thankless a lot of it is - mostly protecting the students from hurting themselves (stress, alcohol, hacking, etc). I never got to meet Sean, but to all of the MIT police officers, thank you for what you do, and thank you for protecting us.

5/16/2013

RIP Brother - I am sure we will meet one day on the other side. Your brother/sisters officers will forever be in debt.

May your family and loved ones hold their heads high!

Mdupont@town.boxford.ma
5/16/2013

I was student of MIT in 1975-76. The young Officer has sacrificed his life for humanity and by his devotion to duty, will forever be an inspiration to all of us. His sacrifice truly brought tears to my eyes as must be to millions around the world. I feel for his family for losing such a noble man. May Almighty bless his soul.

Surya K H P Roy Choudhury
skroychoudhury@alum.mit.edu
5/13/2013

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