An Oklahoma City police officer convicted of killing a suicidal man told the man's family Wednesday he believed he was armed and posed a threat.

"I truly believe with every fiber of my being in that moment that Mr. Pigeon had a knife," Keith Sweeney told Dustin Pigeon's family before a judge sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

A jury convicted Sweeney, 34, of second-degree murder on Nov. 4 and recommended 10 years in prison as punishment.

Oklahoma County District Judge Natalie Mai agreed with the jury's recommendation, telling Sweeney he shouldn't be treated differently because he is a police officer and a Navy veteran.