Former Suffolk Police Chief James Burke was sentenced to 46 months in prison, minus 11 months of time served, for beating up a suspect and covering up the crime.

In addition, Burke received three years of supervised release.

The sentencing stems from a 2012 criminal case where Burke was charged with obstruction of justice and violating the civil rights of suspect Christopher Loeb. Prosecutors say Burke assaulted Loeb after he stole a duffel bag from his car and covered it up.

During the hourlong proceeding, Burke apologized to the court, Loeb, the Suffolk Police Department and the other Suffolk police officers involved in the incident. Burke said it was a "calamitous misdeed" and told the judge the cover-up was "a misguided and wrongful attempt to protect them and myself."

Loeb, currently serving time for violation of parole, read his victim impact statement inside the federal courtroom in Islip. He recounted his 2012 arrest.

"You laughed at me when I asked for a lawyer. You said to me, "This isn't Law and Order [expletive] ' Well, fortunately today, defendant Burke, there is law and this is order," he said.

Burke had asked U.S. District Court Judge Leonard Wexler to show him mercy and sentence him to time already served so he could take care of his elderly mother who has cancer.

Judge Wexler told the court that he felt, "Mr. Burke was acting as a dictator." He said he did good things, but "he also did bad if you were not on his side. That's corruption."

Prosecutors had asked for the maximum 51 months behind bars.