Former Plymouth Police Officer Sentenced For Excessive Force

PLYMOUTH (CBS) – A former Plymouth police officer has been sentenced to a year and a day in prison.

Shawn Coughlin was convicted of using excessive force on a man who was handcuffed and then covering it up by falsifying police reports on the incident.

"This was a police sergeant with an otherwise unblemished career who obviously committed an unfortunate act and paid the price for it," Coughlin's attorney Thomas Dreschler said.

Federal prosecutors had sought a two year sentence while the defense argued Coughlin should serve six months.

He will report to prison on August 25.

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