John Atkinson
Agency patch

John Atkinson

Felonious
End of Watch May 5, 2006
The Vigil Panel 217 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Cst. Atkinson was shot and killed while questioning two suspicious men he observed at a convenience store. Cst. Atkinson approached these individuals and during this time a firearm was produced and Cst. Atkinson was shot. After being hit, Cst. Atkinson was able to return fire, however, neither of the suspects in custody have “bullet-related injuries,” police said. A firearm was recovered, but it is unknown if it was the weapon used in the shooting. Cst. Atkinson was a plainclothes officer and on-duty at the time of the shooting. He was assigned to the provincial anti-terrorism section. Cst. Atkinson is survived by his wife Shelley, nine-year-old son Mitchell and six-year-old daughter Nicole. As we start 2026, we can look back and note that we have been very fortunate to not have lost anyone in Canada to a Line of Duty Death (LODD) these last two years. Since the launch of the Memorial Rib… Photo: Memorial Ribbon Society Directors Shawn Coady & James Pearson with Tumbleweed Spirits Co-Owner Mike Patterson Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Ribbon Society Directors Shawn Coady and …

Survivors

Atkinson is survived by his wife Shelley, nine-year-old son Mitchell and six-year-old daughter Nicole.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-CA-FED-D037EC8C
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 8, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Atkinson served with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Atkinson.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location ON
Platform Identity rcmp.fed.ca.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 5, 2006
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

John Atkinson is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In ON, 75 of 334 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 22.5% of this state's fallen. That is 31.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 75 of 333 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 22.5% of this agency's fallen.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police
75
of 333 officers
22.5% Felonious
ON — Statewide
75
of 334 officers
22.5% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Atkinson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How John Atkinson Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Atkinson is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518