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Cost to guard dead bombing suspect: $47,171

Worcester police removed barricades from in front of the Graham Putnam & Mahoney funeral home in Worcester.Paul Kapteyn/Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Worcester police said they spent more than $47,000 in overtime to provide security at the funeral home where Boston Marathon bomb suspect ­Tamerlan Tsarnaev lay for nearly a week before a burial place was found in Virginia.

The police said they were looking for help in paying for the overtime at the Graham Putnam and Mahoney Funeral Parlors, which added up to $47,171.48.

“The department will examine all opportunities for reimbursement from the state and federal government. We do not believe that these costs are a ­local responsibility,” police said in a statement posted on their website.

The 24-hour detail began at midday on May 3 and concluded Thursday evening, police said. Protesters and a large contingent of reporters had gathered outside the funeral home.

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Tsarnaev, 26, was buried Thursday in a small cemetery in Doswell, Va. The funeral home director and family had been rebuffed by other cemeteries due to Tsarnaev’s alleged role in the Boston Marathon bombings, which killed three and injured more than 260.

Tsarnaev died a few days ­after the April 15 terror attack after a confrontation with ­police. His brother, Dzhokhar, 19, is facing federal charges that could bring him the death penalty.

The brothers are also accused of killing MIT police Officer Sean Collier.


Martin Finucanecan be reached atmfinucane@globe.com.