Portland's mayor expressed concern Friday about text messages between a police lieutenant and the leader of a far-right group that he says "cross several boundaries" and ordered the police chief to investigate.

Mayor Ted Wheeler reacted to the disclosure in a Portland, Oregon, newsweekly in which the police official, Lt. Jeff Niiya, and Joey Gibson, a leader of a group called Patriot Prayer, exchanged what seemed like friendly text messages.

Calling Gibson the "leader of a group that perpetrates hate speech and violence," Wheeler said the text messages sow distrust in the community toward police.

"It is imperative for law enforcement to remain objective and professional, and in my opinion, these text messages appear to cross several boundaries," Wheeler said.

The publication, Willamette Week, published text messages between Niiya and Gibson that were obtained through a public records request. One of them had Niiya telling Gibson that if one of the members of his group had an outstanding warrant, it might be overlooked unless a new crime is committed.

The text from December 2017 said, “Just make sure he doesn’t do anything which may draw our attention.” It added, “If he still has the warrant in the system (I don’t run you guys so I don’t personally know) the officers could arrest him. I don’t see a need to arrest on the warrant unless there is a reason.”

Wheeler's order that Police Chief Danielle Outlaw probe the case mirrors concern expressed by some city commissioners as well.

“I am not shocked, and I am not surprised at today’s reporting of Lt. Jeff Niiya’s collaboration with Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson over text to provide aid and support for their hate marches,” Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty said in a statement.

Wheeler, Hardesty and three other commissioners said last week they would be introducing a resolution that condemns white supremacy and far-right hate groups.

Contributing: Associated Press