Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) issued the following statement after a Baltimore police officer was acquitted of all charges today in connection with the death of Freddie Gray last April.
"Last April in Baltimore, America witnessed a sorry spectacle. A young man, Freddie Gray, had his life cut tragically short. Portions of a great American city were destroyed by violent riots. And six police officers were accused of terrible crimes.
"Today's Baltimore courtroom verdict, finding police officer Edward Nero not guilty on all charges, is a reminder to all of us that we should respect our judicial process instead of rushing to unfair and unfounded judgments.
"The Gray family lawyer put it best today when he said, ‘I don't think anybody should be upset with this verdict, nor do I think anybody should have been elated about a guilty verdict.'
"This is especially important at a time when many of our law enforcement officers find themselves unfairly maligned. The overwhelming majority of our law enforcement men and women work hard to honestly serve and protect us every day, often under extremely challenging circumstances. Any officer who breaks the law must be held accountable. But that accountability must be determined in a court of law, not on lawless streets, or by elected officials who stoke the flames of public opinion."
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