The casket of slain Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer is in place at a campus memorial as thousands of students, faculty and staff, law enforcement officials from across the nation and Vice President Joe Biden gathered to pay respects to Sean Collier.

School President L. Rafael Reif told those gathered that Collier not only had a job at MIT, but also had a life at MIT.

The line of mourners stretched for about a half mile at the MIT on Wednesday ahead of the service.

As many as 10,000 people were expected at Briggs Field on campus. They had to make their way through tight security, including metal detectors and bomb-sniffing dogs ahead of the service.

Biden, and members of Collier's family were also scheduled to speak.