ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY)- April 1, 2022 marks the one hundred and forty-six anniversary of the founding of the Elmira Police Department in 1876.

To honor the department's birthday the EPD Police Chief, Anthony Alvernaz has designed a new departmental flag.

That flag was voted on at tonight's City Council meeting in Elmira. Unanimously all city council members voted to adopt the flag which will represent the Elmira Police Department and the pride and honor the department has serving the people of the city. 

He is a big believer that every law enforcement agency should have its own flag. It's good for morale and also good for officers to have something to rally behind.

"From what I could find looking through documents you know historical type things we couldn't find where the department had a standard flag. The law department couldn't find any resolutions in regards to it. We thought this would be a good year to implement it," Alvernaz said.

Chief Alvernaz added currently there's a vote taking place by Officers in the department on multiple renditions of the flag. April 1st is when the new EPD flag that has been chosen will be unveiled and presented to both the officers and the general public.