SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse police officer Kelsey Francemone made history Thursday becoming the first female to solely earn state Police Officer of the Year award. 

Francemone is also the first officer in both Syracuse and Onondaga County to receive the award.

She was recognized for her response during a fatal shooting at Skiddy Park on Father's Day 2016.

When multiple shots rang out in the park, instead of running away from the danger, Francemone ran toward it. She fired her weapon when a suspect turned toward her. Francemone was then assaulted by members of the crowd.

The investigation later determined the man was armed and had gun shot residue on his hands.

At the ceremony, Francemone thanked her fellow officers for coming to her aid. 

"It really, it was a lot to my co-workers that night too. If it wasn't for them, I might not be standing here. Just then and the training we received as a department as a whole was definitely something," said Francemone.

Francemone has also received the state's Association of Chiefs of Police Medal of Honor and the Francis Hendricks Medal of Bravery.