Londonderry Officers to Pay Respects in Boston

A group of Londonderry Police officers will don their dress blues today as they head to the MIT campus for a private memorial service for fallen MIT police officer Sean Collier, 27, who was shot and killed April 18 in the line of duty by the two alleged Boston Marathon bombers.

Londonderry Police Lt. Tim Jones said 16 Londonderry officers will be among those attending the April 24 service. Many other New Hampshire officers, including some from Nashua, Salem, Pelham, Merrimack,

Today's MIT memorial service, which begins at noon at Briggs Field, will be for "public safety personnel, MIT family, dignitaries only." Vice President Joe Biden will be in attendance.

New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan has also directed all flags in the state to half-staff today in honor of Collier.

"The bombings at the Boston Marathon and its aftermath have affected all of us in New England. We are united in our grief and in our pride in the law enforcement officers who gave so much to protect our people and bring the perpetrators to justice," Hassan said in a statement. "Sean Collier’s dedication to protecting others reflects the very best of the American spirit. As we have heard so often in recent days, all he ever wanted to do was serve as a police officer and work to keep those around him safe, and his senseless murder has taken him from this earth far too soon. The people of New Hampshire join our neighbors in Massachusetts in mourning the loss of Sean Collier, and send our thoughts and prayers to his family and loved ones."