Members of the community gathered Monday to remember Const. John Atkinson - a Windsor police officer who died seven years ago in the line of duty.

His widow, Shelley Atkinson, says it never gets easier, but the support of the community has been helpful.

"Seven years ago yesterday we were planning the birthday party of my daughter Nicole and now she's 14,” says Atkinson. “It's difficult because she's now been without him longer then she was with him and I'm having some trouble with that, but friends and family definitely help.”

The memorial service took place at Windsor Police Headquarters.

Const. Atkinson was shot in the face during a drug investigation outside an east Windsor convenience store on May 5, 2006. In 2007, Nikkolas Brennan was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.