OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Town Supervisor Priscilla Penfold smiles during public comments at a recent meeting. She joked that Dunkirk Police Chief Chris Witkowski and Lieutenant Doug Switzer could speak “whenever they want to.”

Any perceived issues between the town of Dunkirk and the city of Dunkirk Police Department appear to be a thing of the past.

The regular February meeting of the Dunkirk Town Board featured a lengthy discussion regarding police protection and a contract dispute with the City of Dunkirk Police Department. A month later, a contract is now in place, and the department took a step toward strengthening the bond between the City Police and the Town.

Dunkirk Police Chief Chris Witkowski and Lieutenant Doug Switzer attended the March meeting to offer any assistance the Town Board asked of them.

Before Witkowski and Switzer spoke, Town Supervisor Priscilla Penfold joked, “Those two can speak whenever they want to.” They each took her up the offer to officially introduce themselves to the Board. Switzer even offered to regularly attend Town Board meetings if the Board wishes.

The City of Dunkirk Police patrols the Town to provide an added presence of law enforcement in the area in hopes of deterring crime. The Board all agreed that a police presence was necessary in the Town, despite arguing details of the contract itself a month ago.

Penfold asked several questions of the department, including its response to calls. Penfold also noted she has personally observed the City Police on patrol in the Town on a regular basis.

Witkowski explained the Dunkirk Police will respond to calls as the closest agency, even though the Town is out of the City’s jurisdiction. While Dunkirk Police does not actively travel to the Town with the intent to make an arrest, the department has the ability to make arrests and detain perpetrators in the event of a crime the responding officer witnesses.

In instances where a crime is not observed in progress, the City Police would wait for another agency — such as the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department or the State Police — to take the report and make any potential arrest.

“If you need anything, give our station a call,” Witkowski said.

Town Board member Phil Leone thanked the officers for coming to the meeting to introduce themselves. The meeting lasted an hour before entering into executive session, and both officers stayed for the entire meeting to introduce themselves to the board personally before departing.