By Christopher Martin
From humble beginnings over 35 years ago at a small-town tavern in Brockport to receiving national recognition surrounded by family and friends, it has been an amazing journey for Gary Rose, Monroe Community Hospital’s director of Safety and Security.
Rose recently received the 2025 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award from the FBI’s Buffalo Field Office. Buffalo Special Agent in Charge Allen D. Davis presented the award and spoke of Gary’s leadership in strengthening school safety in the region, preventing targeted violence, and building partnerships among schools, law enforcement, and community organizations throughout Monroe County.
“Keeping our communities safe requires strong partnerships,” Davis said. “For years, Gary Rose has worked closely with the FBI and our law enforcement partners to strengthen school safety and prevent violence across Monroe County. FBI Buffalo is proud to recognize Gary for his work bringing people together and his continued commitment to protecting our communities.”
A testament to the award was when Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter, and Rochester Police Department Sgt. Justin Collins spoke about Rose’s efforts to bring together various organizations to protect and serve the community during the award ceremony. Bello also presented Rose with a proclamation naming August 25, 2026, as “Gary Rose Day.”
Rose serves as coordinator of the Monroe County School Safety Consortium, a network of more than 140 school administrators, safety professionals, law enforcement partners, and community leaders focused on protecting schools and students. Through the consortium, Rose subscribes to the three C’s: Cooperation, Communication, and Collaboration, all of which directly affect school safety and the overall community.
For the past five years, Rose has also volunteered with the Rochester Threat Advisory Committee (ROCTAC), a multidisciplinary partnership of schools and colleges, social service agencies, mental health professionals, corporations, and local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies working to prevent targeted violence in Monroe County.
In 2025, Rose helped organize ROCTAC’s third annual Preventing Targeted Violence Symposium, which brought together more than 200 professionals from law enforcement, education, health care, social services, and community organizations. He is also a board member of Project Exile, an initiative focused on reducing gun violence through community collaboration.
Rose’s work reflects his commitment to building trusting community partnerships beyond his day job. His efforts bring together professionals from diverse fields to identify emerging concerns, share information, and strengthen prevention strategies across Monroe County.
“I want people to know that they can come to me, that I will listen and that I will do everything I can to help,” Rose said. “To me, this award shines a light on the important work that often happens behind the scenes — work that many people may never see or fully understand. At the end of the day, I want people to feel safe, respected, and confident knowing that someone is looking out for them.”
The FBI established the Director’s Community Leadership Award in 1990 to recognize individuals and organizations whose work strengthens communities through education and the prevention of crime and violence. Rose was selected from a region that includes Rochester, Buffalo, and several regional counties.
Rose went on to say, “Success is often measured by what doesn’t happen. You rarely get to measure the lives that were protected, the families that were spared heartbreak, or the communities that remained safe because someone recognized a warning sign and took action.”
Photo: Gary Rose, shown here at work, received the 2025 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. Provided photo.
