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Patrick Signs Bill Honoring Slain MIT Officer

Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a bill that would allow an MIT police officer allegedly slain by the suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing to be posthumously appointed to the Somerville Police Department.

Sean Collier had been offered a job and was planning to join the Somerville department before he was fatally shot while sitting in his police cruiser on April 18. Authorities say he was killed by the two men suspected in the twin bombing, which happened three days earlier.

Patrick on Tuesday called the 27-year-old Collier a "true hero" and said the appointment was a "small token to honor his memory and his sacrifice."

The Legislature approved the bill, which allows Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone to appoint Collier to the force.

Curtatone said Collier would have been sworn in next week.

This article was originally published on May 28, 2013.

This program aired on May 28, 2013. The audio for this program is not available.

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