FONTANA - Fontana police Officer Frank Tolerico, 43, has received honorable mention from Parade magazine and The International Association of Chiefs of Police for the 2006 Police Officer of the Year.

Tolerico was on patrol during the night of July 4, 2005, when he saw a man, later determined to be a gang member, riding a bicycle without lights.

Tolerico went to stop the man but the bicycle rider fled. Tolerico ran after the man and caught up to him, but the man turned around and shot Tolerico in the chest, arm and neck, Fontana Police Sgt. Doug Wagner said.

``Even though he had been shot that many times, he was able to fight the suspect off. He was able to draw his own weapon, return fire and killed the suspect,'' Wagner said.

Tolerico attended the International Association of Chiefs of Police 113th Annual Conference Saturday through Wednesday at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

He was one of only 10 officers who received honorable mention.

Tolerico is a six-year veteran of the Fontana Police Department.