ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- Elmira City Manager Michael Collins and Mayor Daniel Mandell took turns at City Hall on Thursday, March 30th explaining why former Police Chief Anthony Alvernaz was fired earlier this year. The move to comment on Alvernaz's firing for the first time comes only one day after WENY News obtained bodycam footage of an incident on Dec. 9th, 2022 involving Alvernaz that was directly tied to the move to fire him. 

"This just goes to one thing and one thing only. this incident prompted an investigation to find out exactly what happened... the reason why he was terminated was not because of this incident or what he did or didn't do. This incident prompted an investigation, it's what he did while the investigation was ongoing that caused his termination," Mayor Mandell said. 

When asked directly what rules or laws Alvernaz violated during the incident neither Mandell or Collins would comment. 

"What the video depicts is... the former Chief Alvernaz responding to a call over on Riverside Ave, during that call the video clearly shows that he pulls up with vehicle to cut the suspect off who was running from other officers." said Mayor Mandell. 

In the video obtained by WENY News, Alvernaz is driving an unmarked police car and is seen driving into the path of the fleeing suspect and onto the lawn of a home on Riverside Ave. The suspect leaps over the car, gets back up and continues running for a short distance before collapsing on the ground. 

"The video that Chief Alvernaz pulls out his weapon at that time, his firearm, orders the individual to stop or he is going to quote, shoot him in the face. Once the individual is taken down and they were bringing him into custody Chief Alvernaz had his weapon next to the suspect. once the suspect was under control chief Alvernaz took the weapon and re-holstered his weapon," Mandell said. 

In the incident reports filed by the officers and Alvernaz, none mention the former chief driving the unmarked police vehicle into a home's front lawn. Instead they say the vehicle was driven into a driveway or sidewalk. On police body camera footage, the car can be clearly seen driving onto a front lawn.

The video also shows Alvernaz briefly drive his knee into the man's back, and sit on top of him as he handcuffs him. Based upon that video, it was determined an investigation into the incident was warranted, said Mandell.

According to Collins, Alvernaz's reaction to the investigation led to his termination. 

"(After) being informed that an internal investigation would be conducted, the then police chief Anthony Alvernaz acted in a manner that was unprofessional and insubordinate, which led to the opportunity to resign or to be terminated. (Alvernaz) chose termination," Collins said. 

In a copy of the incident report filed by Alvernaz, he defended his actions. 

"Chief Alvernaz did not find that simply ignoring the 911 calls was a viable solution/option as all 911 calls should be investigated fully to assure that there is no emergency," Alvernaz wrote in a police incident report dated December 12th.

In a statement released to WENY News in January, Alvernaz said that, "my beliefs cost me my job."

For his part Collins said there would be no further comment on Alvernaz's firing. 

"The reasons that the resignation or termination were presented is a personnel matter, which the City has consistently stated that we will not divulge any further reasons relating to his termination," Collins said.