NEW YORK – A union organizer is on “unpaid leave” after he alleged punched a police officer in the face during a protest on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Robert Murray, an organizer for 32BJ SEIU, turned himself in and is charged with “rioting, assault, obstructing government administration, resisting arrest and escape.”

MORE NEWS: From Classroom to Consulate Chef: Culinary Student Lands Dream Job at U.S. Embassy in Paris

Capital New York reports Murray is “alleged to have pulled Lieutenants Philip Chan and Patrick Sullivan ‘to the ground’ as they attempted to arrest CUNY adjunct professor Eric Linsker for allegedly throwing or trying to throw a metal garbage can.”

Manhattan chief of detectives William Aubry, who saw video of the incident, says, “He also punches Lt. Chan, twice, so hard that we have a witness that says he heard the fist to the face. He heard that noise.”

The union employee – who makes $105,000 a year – is on unpaid leave.

The SEIU local released a statement, saying:

“Rob Murray is a staff member of 32BJ SEIU and is now on unpaid leave. The union does not under any circumstance condone violence of any kind including against police officers. We respect the work of our police officers and support their efforts to protect both the public and those engaging in lawful protest. 32BJ SEIU has repeatedly called on protesters to express their views peacefully just as we called on the police to respect the rights of demonstrators. We trust the facts in this case will come to light through the legal process.”

Zach Tumin, the NYPD deputy commissioner for strategic initiatives, weighed in, tweeting:

MORE NEWS: Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK

The incident likely won’t help with relations between the police union and Mayor de Blasio.

“Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association president Patrick Lynch and others have said Mayor Bill de Blasio has shown insufficient support for officers in the wake of the protests,” according to the news site.

32BJ SEIU was a major supporter of de Balsio during his election.