The president of the Portland police union is calling on City Council members "to quit sitting on their hands'' and decry the violence disrupting local protests.

Police need support to arrest people involved in the vicious brawls, Officer Daryl Turner said in a Facebook post.

"The culture of enablement, restriction of enforcement, criticism of police when we act, and criticism of police when we don't act, along with an over-emphasis on de-escalation and disengagement has led us to our present, unacceptable situation," Turner wrote.

Turner, who leads the Portland Police Association, posted his message Monday afternoon as the city struggles to respond to demonstrations that dissolve into bloody skirmishes.

"Portland has become one of the most politically violent cities in America," he write. "Lawlessness, aggression, and violence have replaced peaceful protests. In a harshly divided nation, we have become a stark example of what happens when fringe groups get exactly what they ask for with their grandstanding – attention."

Mayor Ted Wheeler, who serves as police commissioner, is seeking council support for an emergency ordinance that would allow the city to restrict the time, location and manner of protests if the groups involved have demonstrated a history of violence. Other city commissioners have expressed reservations, concerned the step could infringe protesters' constitutional rights to freedom of speech and assembly.

Police Chief Danielle Outlaw said she supports the mayor's initiative.

Assistant Police Chief Ryan Lee recently explained that the bureau responds to criminal behavior during protests. In a recent Saturday night fight between Patriot Prayer and rival antifa demonstrators in the city's downtown, officers moved in about a minute and a half after a fight broke out, Lee said.

No arrests were made that night. But the bureau will examine any video surveillance from area businesses and conduct a full investigation to make future arrests, officials said.

The chief said the mayor hasn't restricted the police bureau's responses to violent demonstrations. She said sometimes the bureau decides not to intervene to avoid inflaming an already-tense situation.

PPA pres Officer Daryl Turner calls on city 'to draw a line in the sand' and make it clear that violence won't be tolerated at protests. Tells City Council 'to quit sitting on their hands,' decry the violence caused by a few and allow police to step in, stop violence w/ arrests. pic.twitter.com/dEakPdY2Ui — Maxine Bernstein (@maxoregonian) October 22, 2018

Here's Turner's full post:

Line in the Sand

Portland has become one of the most politically violent cities in America. Lawlessness, aggression, and violence have replaced peaceful protests. In a harshly divided nation, we have become a stark example of what happens when fringe groups get exactly what they ask for with their grandstanding – attention.

Our City continues to grapple with the weight of livability issues, the affordable housing crisis, and homelessness without a clear, direct, and comprehensive response from the city and county elected officials. While there is good work being done, they have failed to embrace common sense opportunities like Wapato.

We have seen a similar failure with the handling of the recent protests in downtown Portland and the City's proposed policy changes in response to violence at protests. It's time for City Council to quit sitting on their hands and openly and collectively decry the violence and destruction forced upon the many and caused by a few.

Our officers and our community face those who believe they can harass, assault, and victimize Portlanders at will with no threat of arrest, indictment, or conviction. Our job as law enforcement is to protect the public and enforce the law. People who endanger or victimize others should be held accountable for their actions.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has provided a simple solution:

"The courts have held that the proper response to potential and actual violence is for the government to ensure an adequate police presence, and to arrest those who actually engage in such conduct, rather than to suppress legitimate First Amendment conduct as a prophylactic measure."

Let's be clear: police officers work to uphold the Constitution, including the right to free speech. When protests are peaceful, it's our job to ensure that our community can say their piece and say it without fear of violence.

But when violence erupts at a protest, it is incumbent on the Police Bureau to step in and stop the violence through arrests. And, in turn, it is incumbent on our criminal justice system to ensure wrongdoers are held accountable for their person and property crimes. Providing adequate resources and support to accomplish that is one of the most important roles of government.

The culture of enablement, restriction of enforcement, criticism of police when we act, and criticism of police when we don't act, along with an over-emphasis on de-escalation and disengagement has led us to our present, unacceptable situation.

It's time to draw a line in the sand and let people know that unequivocally, there will be no violence accepted in peaceful protests. And our City Council must support our officers when we act to preserve public safety.

Daryl Turner, PPA President