The State College Police Department released a statement Tuesday in response to President Trump’s recent comments about how police treat people who are in custody.

Trump spoke to a group of officers and law enforcement officials Friday, saying “When you see these thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon. You just see them thrown in rough. I said, ‘Please don’t be too nice,’ Like, don’t hit their head and they’ve just killed somebody, don’t hit their head. I said, ‘You can take the hand away, okay?'”

Trump’s comments were met with across-the-board criticism from police and other officials, including State College Police Chief John Garner and Captain Matthew Wilson.

“The SCPD values community policing and cherishes the positive partnerships and relationships we have with all segments of our community,” the statement reads. “The women and men that serve as SCPD officers work diligently every day to serve our community in a positive fashion, building relationships with every citizen interaction. The President’s recent comments regarding police treatment of persons in custody are clearly inconsistent with our professionalism and code of ethics.”

You can read the full statement below:

The State College Police Department (SCPD), in the wake of President Trump’s recent comments regarding police treatment of persons in custody, is issuing this release to reassure our community that we are professional officers who hold ourselves to a high standard of conduct. We treat ALL people with dignity and respect regardless whether they are a victim, suspect, defendant, complainant, or witness. This is the foundation behind the concepts of procedural justice and police legitimacy. Regardless of why a person is in police custody, everyone is treated humanely, respectfully, and professionally.

Our police department is a Pennsylvania Accredited Department that has stringent policies in place for use of force and treatment of persons in custody. We train on those policies. Additionally, use of force instances are strictly monitored to ensure that department policies are being followed and to ensure our actions are objectively reasonable considering the situation confronted by the officers.

The SCPD values community policing and cherishes the positive partnerships and relationships we have with all segments of our community. The women and men that serve as SCPD officers work diligently every day to serve our community in a positive fashion, building relationships with every citizen interaction. The President’s recent comments regarding police treatment of persons in custody are clearly inconsistent with our professionalism and code of ethics.

Chief John F. Gardner

Captain Matthew E. Wilson