Law and Order
Law and Order
Nick Amaro
Name Nicholas Amaro
Title Detective
Officer (2014)
Affiliation Park Police (2015-present)
NYPD (20??-2015; retired)
Division District 8 (2015-present; Park Police)
Special Victims Unit (2011-2015)
Warrants Squad (former)
Narcotics Division (former)
Precinct 16th Precinct (2011-2015)
27th Precinct (2014)
116th Precinct (2014)
Occupation Police officer
Pathology Serial Assailant
Family Maria Grazie (ex-wife)
Zara Amaro (daughter)
Gilberto Mancheno (son with Cynthia Mancheno)
Cesaria Amaro (mother)
Nicolas Fiorello Amaro (father)
Sonya Amaro (sister)
Unnamed Cousin
Status Alive (retired)
Actor Danny Pino
First Appearance "Personal Fouls"
Last Appearance "Surrendering Noah"

Nicholas "Nick" Amaro, most likely born in the late 1970s to early 1980s, is a former police detective who transferred to the Special Victims Unit from narcotics and warrants in 2011. He is charismatic and charming and often used his charm to get difficult witnesses who do not cooperate to talk. He replaced Elliot Stabler as the lead male of the SVU. His badge number is 0840.


Amaro is divorced with two children, a daughter named Zara with his ex-wife, and a son with his ex-girlfriend named Gilberto. His ex-wife Maria was in Iraq and returned on Valentine's Day. (SVU: "Personal Fouls")

He has a cousin who serves as a cop. (SVU: "Beautiful Frame")

Nick is of Cuban and Italian heritage.(SVU: "Strange Beauty")

He is a Catholic, fluent in Spanish, and also apparently has good connections with the community. Amaro's father beat his mother when he was younger, and later fled to Miami, Florida; he attributes his firm belief in divorce to this.(SVU: "Padre Sandungeuro")

He and his wife have recently split up, Maria having moved to L.A. to take a job taking Zara with her. Nick was at first against the move, but with his recent antics and violent behavior he was advised, "don't fight this" by Maria. After returning to New York City, Maria walked in the park with Nick and Zara. During a walk in the park, Marie tells him that she has been offered a job in L.A.. She also gives Nick a chance to reconcile if he moves to California with her and Zara, leaving him to consider her offer. He ultimately refuses and they separate.(SVU: "Thought Criminal")

While undercover on a narcotics bust, Amaro had a relationship with the sister of a major drug dealer. (SVU: "Undercover Blue") Nine years later, the relationship is brought back to light, when a court case involving rape accusations against Brian Cassidy throws Amaro under the bus. The woman, Cynthia Mancheno, claims that she had a son by Amaro during that relationship, named Gilberto. When a paternity test confirms this, Amaro attempts to spend more time with his son, who believes that he is Amaro's nephew. Cynthia later gives Amaro permission to reveal his identity to Gilberto. (SVU: "Born Psychopath") Afterwards, Nick is seen bonding with Gilberto.(SVU: "Her Negotiation") Due to a series of gang violence, Gilberto moved to San Diego with his mother. (SVU: "Granting Immunity") 

Personal life[]

He has no sympathy for people who rape the mentally ill or children.  He seems to be protective of Amanda Rollins and is suspicious of his wife dating other men while in the Army and afterwards, assaulting a friend of hers he believed she was having an affair with after she lied to him about where she was. She denies having an affair and finally reveals to him that she is seeing a psychiatrist and didn't want him to know.

Later on, it was discovered that his wife Maria Grazie took a job in Washington, D.C., claiming that they needed a break from each other. When she returned, she announced she was going to L.A. and hinted she still loved him. Nick even considered reconciling with her for a better start but turned it down.


It has also been hinted that Nick and Amanda have been in a relationship for quite some time since he emerges from her bathroom and comfortably sits on her couch. (SVU: "Reasonable Doubt") Aside from his protectiveness of Amanda, his attraction to her has been previously hinted at. (SVU: "Gambler's Fallacy") He's usually the one to realize when something is wrong with her. The nature of their relationship and whether both Olivia and Fin know has not been revealed yet. It is implied that they are sleeping together, as Holden questioned their relationship. (SVU: "Holden's Manifesto") Though they never answered his question, Holden is certain they are in a relationship. Their relationship is still discreet in the squad room.


Amaro reveals that he served in the army, being placed in rescue missions in Iraq.

He says his rank is Detective Second Grade. (SVU: "True Believers") He worked in vertical patrol in housing projects for six years. (SVU: "Educated Guess")

At the end of season 15, he assaulted an alleged pedophile (with a torture chamber and horrific fantasies) who was photographing young boys. He was transferred to Traffic and took anger management classes, but was later promoted back to Special Victims after he was accused of being inappropriate with a woman whilst arresting her. He was later cleared by IAB due to a video recording on the dashboard of his car that showed the arrest was by the book.

Amaro wanted to be promoted to sergeant, however, he was told by Olivia that the department wouldn't promote him even if he aced the sergeant's exam, due to his history on the job. Later on, the squad is involved in a shootout in the courthouse, committed by Johnny Drake. Nick is shot by Drake and sustains non-life threatening injuries, but needs months of rehab. In the final scene, he mentions to Benson that he was going nowhere in the department, and decided that it would be best to retire and start over again in California, where his son and daughter reside. Benson says to Nick, "Whatever happens, Nick Amaro, friends for life." Amaro appreciated her saying this and was grateful for everything she has done for him throughout his time on SVU.

Rollins revealed that Amaro became a part of the United States Park Police after he moved to California.

Officer-involved shootings[]


  • Amaro is the only main character on SVU to be credited in an episode he does not appear in before appearing for the first time.
  • Amaro has been in trouble with the law more times than any other police officer in the franchise.
  • Amaro, along with Kim Greylek, are the only main characters on SVU to not appear in a guest or recurring role.
  • Amaro has a strong hatred for pedophiles and rapists and sometimes physically assaults them, similarly to Elliot Stabler.
  • Amaro has been referenced and mentioned on the series more than any other past main character in the franchise, most notably in the twenty-second season.


Icon SVU.jpg Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - Main Characters

Senior Detectives: Elliot StablerJohn MunchOdafin TutuolaOlivia BensonAmanda Rollins


Squad Supervisors: John MunchOlivia Benson

Commanding Officers: Donald CragenOlivia BensonChristian Garland


Others: Melinda WarnerGeorge Huang