"It takes tremendous courage and integrity for police officers to suit up each day and put themselves in harm’s way to protect others," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. "It takes even more to remain calm and act quickly and decisively in the face of a deadly threat. Officer Amatore did just that while under fire from a gunman who had already wounded three of her colleagues."

Amatore was presented the award Tuesday during New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services' (DCJS) annual Public Safety Symposium, the state’s largest professional gathering of public safety leaders and partners.

“Officer Amatore’s actions exemplified exceptional heroism, bravery and selfless dedication to duty," Chief David M. Smith said in a statement. "Faced with an immediate and lethal threat, she continued the mission without hesitation, knowingly placing herself in danger after three fellow officers had been shot and gravely injured, to stop a violent offender and protect her colleagues and the public."

Amatore has been with the department since 2019. She is the department's second officer to be named New York State Police Officer of the Year.

"It means a lot to me," Amatore told WHAM-TV. "I want to thank the Rochester Police Department and Chief David Smith for nominating me for this award and all of the support they've shown."

Also during the symposium, Lifesaving Awards were presented to New York State Trooper Thomas Stiehler and Suffolk County Police Sgt. Robert Griffith. 

On July 4, 2025, Stiehler broke down a door in a burning building in Albany and carried an older woman down several flights of stairs to save her. Later that month, Griffith stopped an advancing knife-wielding attacker while he and another officer were treating an injured victim.