Windsor police gathered on Tuesday to honour Const. John Atkinson, 20 years after he was shot and killed while on duty. The emotional ceremony at police headquarters brought together his widow Shelley, their children Nicole and Mitchell, and dozens of officers to remember the 14-year veteran.
Atkinson, 37, was killed on May 5, 2006, after approaching two suspected drug dealers in a convenience store parking lot at Pillette Road and Seminole Street. The words “Officer down” crackled over police radio at 2:07 p.m., marking the first murder of a Windsor police officer in the line of duty.
Former police chief Glenn Stannard described that day as the “most difficult” of his 38-year career. “There’s nothing I experienced as to what took place … and just the tragedy of that day,” he said. “It was a solemn time … but I was quite proud as chief to see how our people handled that situation.”
Stannard recalled being in his office shortly before 2 p.m. when the first call came in. The initial report was brief but serious. “It wasn’t looking good,” he said. Senior command and the mayor’s office were notified immediately. Stannard and then-mayor Eddie Francis went straight to meet with Atkinson’s family. “I can’t even put into words the conversation that we had with Shelley at her house following John’s passing,” Stannard said. “It was heavy, very heavy.”
A manhunt involving witnesses, one who tracked an armed suspect fleeing on foot, led to the arrests of two 18-year-old men within an hour. Atkinson left behind his wife and two children, then aged seven and nine.
“John was a dedicated police officer,” Stannard said. “He saw policing as not just a job, but as a calling. He worked hard at it.”
Six days after his death, about 5,000 law enforcement officers from across Canada and beyond attended Atkinson’s funeral, one of the largest in the city’s history. Police from other jurisdictions patrolled Windsor streets so local officers could attend.
Atkinson was known within the police service for both his professionalism and his personality. Early in his career, he was nicknamed ‘Smiley,’ and later ‘Sparky,’ reflecting how he approached his day. His attitude was evident even in high school at W.F. Herman Academy Secondary School, where he played football. “He was a good athlete and was always the spark on that team,” Stannard said. “He carried that into policing — there was no question that he was well liked.”
Members of the service, alongside Shelley Atkinson, also attended the 2026 Ceremony of Remembrance at the Ontario Police Memorial in Toronto on Sunday. “Standing with policing partners from across Ontario, we honoured officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,” police said in a social media post.
In the years following Atkinson’s death, the Herb Gray Parkway tunnel next to St. Clair College was named in his honour, as well as a community centre in the east end neighbourhood where he and his family lived. The John Atkinson Memorial Scholarship Fund was created in 2006 by his wife through the WindsorEssex Community Foundation. Since 2016, proceeds from the annual Constable John Atkinson Memorial Golf Tournament have gone directly into the fund, supporting students pursuing careers in law enforcement. The 2026 event is scheduled for August at Ambassador Golf Club.
