[1] Atkinson was sworn in as constable on 30 October 1968 and there began a 44-year career with the Queensland Police Service, where he performed a wide range of operational and managerial roles.

He was a detective for approximately 20 years and acted as the police prosecutor in various Magistrates Courts during this period.

Atkinson oversaw reforms after the Fitzgerald inquiry from 1990 and following the Public Sector Management Commission Review and Report Recommendations of the Queensland Police Service in 1993.

[2] In 1989 Atkinson attended the three-month FBI National Academy Course at Quantico, Virginia, in the United States.

He again attended the FBI Academy during 2002 for the National Executive Institute Program.