CRANSTON, R.I. -- The NBC 10 I-Team reported Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Justice will not investigate allegations of fudged crime stats at the Providence Police Department.

The Providence police union asked for the Justice Department investigation. It followed a Channel 6 news report that alleged officials at the Providence Police Department were falsifying crime stats to make it look like crime was decreasing in the city.

But the Justice Department said there is no evidence to support the allegations.

Col. Dean Esserman denied the allegations in the Channel 6 report, and he said he welcomed the Justice Department probe.

But a letter from the Justice Department to the police union stated, "Your request that the Department of Justice conduct a review to assess the accuracy of the allegations raised in the news report does not appear to implicate a violation of a federal statute."

So, the Justice Department said it won't investigate.

"We welcome anyone to investigate at time," said Esserman, who again denied the allegations raised in the Channel 6 report.

In another letter supplied by the chief's office, Patrolwoman Michelle Guerette stated to the chief, "I want to take a moment to thank you for the manner in which you handled the most recent testing scandal. I have seen prior administrations act unethically and without moral honor."

The I-Team placed calls to the police union, but there was no immediate response.

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