Speaking about the events following the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore last month, Sen. Patrick J. Toomey, R-Pa., pushed back Tuesday against critics of law enforcement, saying while there is “no excuse for unlawful police conduct,” the notion that there is an “epidemic” of police crime is “not true.”

“When six police officers were charged Friday in the death of Freddie Gray, there were celebrations on the streets in Baltimore … at a certain level, that’s completely understandable. Whatever Mr. Gray did on that day, the day that he was arrested, he certainly didn’t deserve to die,” Toomey said on the Senate floor. “…[But] what happens if these accused police officers are found not to have broken the law? … These officers are going to go through hell whether they deserve to or not. … What message does that send to all the tens of thousands of police officers all across America who risk their lives every day to protect their communities from criminals?”