Under a large, white tent about a thousand MIT students, faculty and staff listened to stories about Sean Collier, a police officer whose interest in befriending students made him more than a young man in a uniform patrolling campus.
“He was always learning," said Sarah Ferry, a student who called Collier a friend. "If you were his friend, he wanted to tour your lab and know all about your research. He sought out challenge and adventure. Whether he was exploring the hidden corners of MIT’s campus or climbing a mountain with the outing club.”
And MIT executive vice president and treasurer Israel Ruiz remembered his first encounter with Collier.
“Shortly after he had joined MIT police we had a chance to talk during his police detail," Ruiz said, laughing. "He asked me if I was a grad student. I told him I once was."
Collier was also fondly remembered taking swing dancing classes, and giving rides during snowstorms. MIT Police Chief John DiFava summarized his impression.
“Sean was as good as I’ve ever seen and probably better than most," he said. "There are some of us that come on the police agency because we’re looking for a job or there’s a whole host of other reasons. But here’s a young man that wanted to be a police officer from his earliest days, when he was a little boy.”
Collier’s family was in the audience but did not speak. MIT announced it will soon construct a large, metal sculpture in Collier’s honor and the city of Cambridge is declaring Sean Collier Square adjacent to the campus.
