NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut police officer has been fired for punching a handcuffed man in the face and kicking him in the groin during an arrest last year. 

The New Haven Board of Police Commissioners voted 4 to 2 on Tuesday to fire Officer Jason Santiago for excessive force and violating departmental rules of conduct.

Police Chief Ontoniel Reyes had recommended that Santiago be fired over an arrest on Christmas Day, 2019 in which he kicked an intoxicated man in the groin while he was handcuffed and pulled him up by his hair. Body camera footage released last week shows Santiago also punched the man after the man spat on the officer.

“These are difficult decisions to make," Mayor Justin Elicker said in a statement. "I understand Officer Santiago had a good record as a New Haven Police Officer. Even so, we must have a high standard for officer conduct in the New Haven Police Department and ensure officers do not use unnecessary force.”

Santiago’s lawyer argued that instead of being fired, the officer should serve a three-month suspension and receive additional training on use of force.