The courageous police trainee who shot dead cop killer Manuel Rosales in the Bronx last November was one of 555 police recruits sworn in at a graduation ceremony Wednesday morning.

Elwin Martinez, 25, received a standing ovation from the Madison Square Garden Crowd when presented with the Commanding Officer, Police Academy Award for Exceptional Police Duty.

He was being honored for his Nov. 4 heroics in the Bronx when he quickly returned fire at Rosales, who seconds earlier shot dead Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo.

Elwin had been taking part in his third and final day of a field- training program.

The rookie cop, along with Sgt. Tuozzolo and several other officers had chased down Rosales after he tried to break into a nearby home to see his estranged wife.

Rosales opened fire from inside his car, striking and killing Sgt. Tuozzolo on the spot.

Both Elwin and Tuozzolo’s partner — who was also struck by gunfire — returned fire.

Elwin became the first recruit in department history to use lethal force.

It was the first class of cops to graduate under Police Commissioner James O’Neill.

He thanked Martinez and called him “an exceptional young man,” who “showed incredible courage under fire in the [43 precinct].”

“When Paul Tuozzolo was murdered by an armed suspect in the Bronx, Officer Martinez, who was in the midst of field training, immediately fired back at the suspect killing him. In doing so, likely saved other officers that were directly in harm’s way,” said the top cop.

Another newly minted cop awarded at the 11 a.m. graduation ceremony was Joseph Vigiano, whose Detective father died in the 9/11 terror attacks.

“After the tragedy of September 11, the NYPD really took my family in, even more so than they already had,” said Vigiano, who received the Police Benevolent Association Award for Outstanding Company Sergeant.

“They just brought us in and took care of us, so I want to be part of that family,” he told reporters after the ceremony.

Vigiano will begin his career in the 75 precinct, where both of his parents started out.

Mayor De Blasio called the group of 449 men and 106 women “the best trained class in the history of the NYPD.”

“You are joining a winning team,” he added.