Westerly — Rhode Island State Police have found no basis for any criminal charges against a former Westerly zoning official accused of extortion and bribery, according to a news statement issued by Westerly Town Manager Amy Grzybowski.

“Their investigation has exonerated the Town and its former town employee, Elizabeth Burdick, from any wrongdoing associated with her resignation and negotiation of a severance package in January of 2013,” Grzybowski said in the statement.

Town Council President Christopher Duhamel asked state police to investigate the circumstances surrounding Burdick’s resignation after public accusations surfaced in February of extortion and a subsequent cover up.

“The Town granted the State Police unfettered access to all of its documents, correspondence and emails, and it also made Town officials and employees available to the State Police for interviews,” Grzybowski said in the statement. “With the conclusion of the State Police’s investigation, the allegations made publicly against Ms. Burdick and the Town have been revealed as unsubstantiated."

“I am sorry that Ms. Burdick and Town officials had to endure the investigation,” Duhamel said in the statement. “I am extremely thankful that my understanding as to the innocence of all involved was confirmed, and I hope public perception is improved as a result of the now concluded State Police review.”