Windsor police held a special ceremony to dedicate a tunnel in the memory of Sr. Const. John Atkinson.

The dedication of the Senior Constable John Atkinson Tunnel took place at the Student Life Centre  at St. Clair College.

Hundreds of officers, as well as his widow Shelley Atkinson and two children, were on hand for the ceremony.

The sign is on the Herb Gray Parkway near St. Clair College.

WFCU Credit Union president Eddie Francis has also announced the establishment of the WFCU Credit Union John Atkinson Memorial Scholarship.

This scholarship will be awarded to one male student and one female student enrolled in the Protection, Security and Investigation, or Police Foundations programs at St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology. 

Each scholarship will have a value of $2,500.  A total of $5,000 will be awarded each year.  St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology Awards Office will oversee the application process.  

“This new scholarship will allow John Atkinson’s legacy to live on as we invest in students studying in Police, Security and Investigation programs, programs that are vital to the protection of our community,” said Francis in a news release.

Atkinson was killed in the line of duty on May 5, 2006. In 2007, Nikkolas Brennan was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.