Former Inkster Police Officer William Melendez was convicted and sentenced Tuesday to up to 10 years in prison for the beating of a motorist in Detroit during a traffic stop last year which was caught on videotape.
The sentence relates to the beating of Floyd Dent, a black motorist, who was pulled out of his car by Melendez during a traffic stop on Jan. 28, 2015, and hit 16 times in the face. Melendez was charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm, and he was found guilty of in November, according to The Detroit News.
He was in prison since Nov. 19 following the jury's decision, which allows him to be credited with 90 days for time served for his current sentence.
Melendez recited a poem about the thankless nature of police work during his sentencing, saying that while many officers quit their current beat for better paying jobs, there are few who stay for solely altruistic purposes.
"When there is nothing left some officers shut down and they stop working," he said, according to Michigan Live. "Others ... move to quieter cities where the pay is better. Some retire early. Others quit to pursue other careers.
"There are a few, there are a few brave who are out there right now on patrol; they are even here in this courtroom .They have the perseverance to put a uniform on and go out on the streets and do the job. They don't do it for power or authority. They do it for hope, hope that they just might in their selfless actions, might make one small city block a little safer, save a life or help someone make the right decision towards their future."
Despite his impassioned testimony about thankless police work, he was remorseless about his actions, only offering an apology to Dent and his family for the hardships the trial put them through.
"To Mr. Dent and his family, I am truly sorry that this has caused undue hardships in your personal life, and if you have any animosity towards law enforcement that was not my intention," he said.
"To the community, I am truly sorry that you believe my actions were unjust. Please have faith in your law enforcement officers, for many of them would risk their lives for yours," he continued, according to the Star Pulse.
He concluded by apologizing to his family for the emotional, physical and mental anguish the legal battle has put them through.
"To my family, I am sorry, especially to my beautiful wife and my son, for they have suffered emotionally, physically and mentally during these long hard months," he said.
