Portland police Lt. Jeff Niiya has been removed from the Rapid Response Team and barred from communicating with any protest organizers as the bureau investigates his frequent text messages and emails with Joey Gibson, the leader of the right-wing Patriot Prayer group.

The Police Bureau also has scheduled a "listening session’' next week to hear public concerns about the lieutenant’s communications with Gibson in 2017 and 2018 before, during and after protests in downtown Portland. Many of the rallies and demonstrations turned violent as Gibson and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters, often led by self-described anti-fascist demonstrators, or antifa, dressed in black with their faces covered.

"It is imperative that we come together to hear people’s concerns and ideas,'' Police Chief Danielle Outlaw said Friday in a statement as the bureau announced restrictions to Niiya’s assignment. "2019 is a year for solutions. We would like for the public to have the opportunity to share with the Portland Police Bureau their ideas for how to move forward.''

By the end of the day, Mayor Ted Wheeler said he and the chief would provide training for officers “around how to identify white supremacy” and that he would order an independent investigation “to review the existence of bias in the actions of the (Police Bureau) leading up to and during demonstrations involving alt-right and anti-fascist protesters.”

“Chief Outlaw agrees this is a necessary next step and is more than ready to work with me on this,” Wheeler said in a statement. “I have heard from the people of Portland. I agree we must do more to ensure that we adhere to the values affirmed by the resolution recently passed by City Council to condemn white supremacist and alt-right hate groups.”

The police chief earlier said she would launch an internal review of the texts and emails to “determine if any bureau directives were violated.”

Niiya has served as a bureau liaison to protest organizers since Occupy Portland in 2011. The hundreds of messages released by police show an ongoing rapport with Gibson. Niiya sometimes alerted Gibson to counter protesters’ movements during demonstrations. He provided information to Gibson on the level of police presence to expect at certain protests.

The lieutenant also informed Gibson about an arrest warrant for Gibson’s sidekick, Tusitala “Tiny” Toese, that could cause Toese problems if he acted out during a protest. (Gibson and Toese have since parted ways.)

Niiya asked Gibson repeatedly about the number of supporters the Patriot Prayer frontman expected to show up and where in the city. Other communications were more chummy, with Niiya congratulating Gibson when Gibson shared that he planned to run for a U.S. Senate seat or ending messages by wishing Gibson a great weekend.

Niiya’s email and text message exchanges with Gibson, first obtained by Willamette Week and Portland Mercury and then released late Thursday by the Police Bureau, generated immediate criticism from the mayor, City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty and multiple community leaders.

City Commissioner Chloe Eudaly joined in later, saying in a statement: “This revelation has only served to confirm suspicions and deepen the divide between the PPB and the community. All members of our police bureau must follow our rules and uphold our progressive values, not aid and abet groups and individuals bent on doing harm to our communities and responsible for terrorizing our city.”

Community activists quickly took to social media, decrying the communications as evidence of what they’ve complained is the bureau’s leaning toward protecting Patriot Prayer members and their affiliates while targeting counter-protesters during the clashes.

The Pacific Northwest Antifascist Workers Collective issued a call on Twitter to demonstrate outside City Hall on Friday to demand the city and Police Bureau "be held accountable for supporting, protecting and collaborating with violent ultra nationalists and fascists who perpetrate violence in our city.'' About two dozen activists gathered, saying the mayor should leave his post as police commissioner and that independent investigators should review the Police Bureau.

9 Activists rallied outside City Hall in Portland Friday

The Oregon chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Oregon Justice Resource Center and Western States Center issued a statement, saying the "warm texts and helpful tips to Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson is just the latest news showing an inappropriate and disproportionate response to alt-right groups'' from police.

Lt. Craig Morgan, president of the Portland Police Commanding Officers Association, criticized Wheeler and Hardesty for what he called “their rush to judgment” that may "enflame and prejudice'' the bureau’s investigation and outcome.

"The PPCOA is confident the investigation will reveal that Lieutenant Niiya was acting in the best interest of the city of Portland and its community members. Lieutenant Niiya’s actions were within Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Directives and Policy,'' Morgan wrote in response. " Lieutenant Niiya was given direction by PPB management to establish relationships with known event or demonstration organizers to assist the bureau in its planning and to develop a shared understanding of the organizers’ needs and objectives. Furthermore, PPCOA believes the investigation will show Lieutenant Niiya always communicated with dignity, courtesy, and respect.''

The bureau’s listening session is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Maranatha Church, 4222 N.E. 12th Ave.

(Gordon Friedman of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report.)

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com

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