ATO Accepting Donations for Officer Frank Pierce

Houston police said Officer Frank Pierce, 39, was shot at the Alexan at Bunker Hill apartment complex in the 9700 block of Pine Lake Drive near Witte Road shortly before noon Monday when he confronted two burglary suspects. Pierce confronted a 14-year-old and ordered him to drop stolen property, investigators said. Pierce identified himself as a Houston police officer and was wearing police pants, a T-shirt and had his badge around his neck, detectives said.

Police said a second burglar, whom they identified as Patrick Carnell Freeman, 19, confronted Pierce and they got into a struggle. Freeman shot Pierce with a gun that he had just stolen, police said. The officer returned fire, but the suspects were not injured, investigators said.

Pierce suffered two gunshot wounds to his abdomen and was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he had surgery. He was listed in good condition on Tuesday.

PayPal:

Law enforcement officers serve and protect our communities. It is an unfortunate reality that many of these officers face work-related risks with the potential for injury on a daily basis. When an injury occurs, it can often times be financially catastrophic especially if they are the sole provider for their family. During their time of recovery, the last thing an officer should have to worry about is how he or she will make ends meet while recuperating.

Founded in 1993, Assist the Officer is a tax-exempt, non profit organization under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code 501 (c) 3, providing short-term, immediate need financial assistance to peace officers in the Greater Houston area critically injured or disabled in the line of duty.

Assist the Officer serves to provides programs to fulfill an immediate need including:

• Financial Assistance Program to assist with financial hardship to those
  officers prevented to return back to work prior to 30 consecutive days due
  to catastrophic injury in the line of duty.
• Scholarships to qualifying High School Seniors of those critically injured
  or disabled officers in need. These scholarships are part of an
  essay-writing contest judged by independent panels.
• Scholarships to qualifying disabled officers forced to retire due to medical
  disability and having to seek further education for a career change.