Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz talked up her role in the investigation and arrest of Treasurer Mark Woods in a statement posted to the city website.

The statement was co-signed by Dunkirk Police Chief Chris Witkowski. Woods was arrested Friday on charges of second-degree grand larceny, first-degree corrupting the government, and 12 counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree. He allegedly stole more than $120,000 from the city.

The Wdowiasz/Witkowski statement begins by declaring the mayor “immediately prioritized a full review of the City’s finances” when she took office in 2024.

“From the start, she made it clear that the status quo was unacceptable. She implemented new policies and procedures to modernize financial oversight, strengthen record-keeping, and ensure transparency. These reforms were decisive. Because of the Mayor’s strengthened controls and mandatory oversight, significant irregularities were uncovered, triggering the investigation.”

The statement then points out Woods’ indictment and arrest.

“While difficult for our community, this action is a necessary step toward accountability and restoring public trust,” Wdowiasz and Witkowski said in their statement. 0

It’s then asserted that “the mayor’s reforms were the direct catalyst for uncovering suspected criminal activity within the Treasurer’s Office. By requiring shared access to financial records, enforcing multi-layered review, and rejecting outdated practices, the administration exposed irregularities that had previously been concealed. These findings were immediately referred to the appropriate authorities, leading to the investigation, indictment, and arrest of Mr. Woods.”

The anger of city residents is acknowledged.

“The City of Dunkirk understands the frustration and disappointment residents feel when public funds are mishandled. Our community works hard, pays taxes, and deserves a government that protects every dollar. This administration — and the residents we serve — will not tolerate misconduct, secrecy, or abuse of public trust. When concerns were raised, the mayor acted decisively, and the strengthened oversight measures ensured the suspected misconduct was uncovered and addressed,” the statement reads. “Once concerns were identified, Mayor Wdowiasz immediately restricted the Treasurer’s ability to independently handle city funds, implemented additional oversight requirements, and ensured no financial transactions occurred without broader administrative review. These actions protected taxpayer dollars and stabilized city operations while the investigation proceeded.”

The statement concludes that Wdowiasz and Witkowski “reaffirm that the city has been fully transparent throughout this process and will continue to support state and county authorities as legal proceedings move forward. The city remains committed to strong internal controls, financial transparency, and ensuring that breaches of trust never occur again. Our residents deserve nothing less.”