PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A judge has ordered that a Providence police sergeant who pleaded no contest to beating a man in handcuffs five years ago can move from an unpaid suspension to paid leave, according to an order filed on Wednesday in R.I. Superior Court.

In April 2020, Sgt. Joseph Hanley was captured on both cell phone and police body-worn camera video hitting a suspect, Rishod Gore, who was in handcuffs at the time. In the video, Hanley was also seen kneeling on Gore’s neck area and standing on his calves.

The case has weaved its way through the legal system for more than five years.

In 2021, a district court judge found Hanley guilty of simple assault. He was sentenced to one year of probation, ordered to complete five anger management classes and issued a no-contact order wit

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