It took a Manhattan jury just three hours to acquit a former Department of Homeless Services police sergeant accused of stomping on the head of a mentally ill man during an arrest.

Prosecutors claimed Cordell Fitts used excessive force and falsified records following the March 2017 incident, in which he and others working the Bellevue men’s shelter were confronted in the lobby by a violent Tyriek Gladney.

Yet jurors swiftly found the 34-year-old “not guilty” of the charges, sparing him from a potential 30-year sentence.

The verdict followed a three-day trial in which Assistant US Attorneys Jennifer Jude and Alex Rossmiller said Fitts repeatedly punched, kicked and stomped on Gladney after the victim swung at him.

“The defendant had a hard job on his hands,” Rossmiller told the panel during closing arguments Thursday. “But part of that job is not to beat on people unnecessarily.”

Yet defense attorney Julia Gatto quoted infamous heavyweight champ Mike Tyson during her summations: “Everyone has a plan until they’re punched in the face.”

Gatto argued her client used only as much force as was necessary to subdue Gladney, who was allegedly trying to chomp down on Fitts’ leg during the altercation.

Prosecutors say the former DHS worker also filed a false report about the incident, which he denied.

Fitts and his lawyers declined comment as they left the courthouse.