This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

In written answers provided Tuesday, the Portland Police Bureau gave evasive explanations about crowd control and police violence, including deflecting questions about legal settlements, violence by protesters and police crowd-control tactics.

In 16 pages of responses to questions by Commissioner Chloe Eudaly, the bureau offered a strong defense of its officers and their handling of turbulent demonstrations.

Police officials said responding to large, unpredictable protests is difficult and expensive, costing more than $3.6 million in overtime since 2016. They provided lawyerly responses to the most provocative of Eudaly's questions, but said they are working to improve city policing.

During a hearing last week, Eudaly pelted Police Chief Danielle Outlaw and her closest advisers with questions about police conduct at protests and a perceived bias toward right-wing groups. Eudaly got few immediate answers and requested the bureau provide written responses to her questions.

In those responses, Police Bureau officials said police officers have demonstrated "no favoritism" to right-wing groups including Patriot Prayer and Proud Boys, or to Antifa or other left-wing counter-demonstrators. Yet it acknowledged its image problem.

"We understand the perception of bias," bureau officials wrote, "and we are currently assessing our tactical responses to alleviate concerns of bias in the future without compromising safety."

Eudaly declined to comment Wednesday. In her questions to police, the commissioner asked why violent people are not always pulled from crowds of protesters and arrested by police. The bureau said that is "not always feasible" and increases the likelihood police will use force.

When Eudaly asked about use of flash-bang grenades on protesters in August, Police Bureau officials said officers' use of the crowd-control devices was not "indiscriminate." They said a police lieutenant's comment that right-wing protesters are "more mainstream" was taken out of context. And they said police officers do not "escort" right-wing protesters, but merely follow them as they march.

Eudaly also asked for evidence to back up the Police Bureau's assertion that left-wing demonstrators threw objects at police during an August rally. Outlaw and her deputies have said those projectiles were what prompted bureau leaders to authorize use of riot-control munitions on protesters and bystanders, some of whom suffered serious injuries.

"There are ongoing investigations into these allegations," bureau officials wrote. Police officers been injured by objects thrown by protesters, they wrote. But nothing in their written response indicated those injuries occurred during the August protest.

Eudaly asked why those who have been arrested for violent behavior at demonstrations are not prosecuted "more harshly." Police officials deferred to the district attorney's office.

In response to Eudaly's question about the number of settlements paid to protesters for excessive use of force by police, officials said they did not have an answer. And when asked about police tactics at a protest last year, officials said they could not answer because a lawsuit had been filed.

Eudaly also implored the Police Bureau to say that right-wing are "the real threat" to public safety in Portland. "We believe we answered this at the hearing" during which Eudaly questioned Chief Outlaw, bureau officials wrote.

In that hearing, Outlaw declined Eudaly's request to criticize right-wing or white nationalist views or Patriot Prayer provocations. Her police officers focus only on people's behaviors and actions, she said.

-- Gordon R. Friedman