Wakefielder Organizing Basketball Tournament in Memory of Slain MIT Officer

Wakefield will be well-represented at this Saturday’s first responder’s basketball tournament at MIT in memory of slain campus police officer Sean Collier. The event was organized by a Wakefield resident, and the town’s police and high school are sending a team as well.

In a recent conversation with Wakefield Patch, Rafael Olmedo, an MRI Technologist at Lahey Clinic who referees high school basketball games, reported that the idea for the tournament formed after he met an MIT police officer, Peter McTague, who had worked with Collier. Collier , 26, was murdered  on April 18 by the Boston Marathon terrorists who were apparently trying to steal his gun.

The single elimination tournament will pit more than 20 teams against each other, most of which will come from towns that had some connection to the bombing victims.  Other involved communities include Medford, Malden, Somerville, Wilmington and Watertown. “The teams that are coming are pretty good,” he said. 

Olmedo noted that MIT was providing its gym at no cost for the event, while colleagues were donating their time as referees.  Others have provided raffle items.

The tournament is Saturday, June 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the MIT gym, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge. Admission is $5. All proceeds from team registration fees and admission benefit the Sean Collier Fund and the One Fund.

For more information, email Rafael at rafaelolmedo@gmail.com.