That is the antithesis of what our current fascist government wants. Which is all the more reason why we should not let it happen.
Personally I think less cops and more citizen involvement would be better. Naturally people should have the option of being armed. However its important to remember that in the days of the posse, the constitution was often trampled far more than what happened in Boston at the hands of police.
I think I would have strongly suggested that people avoid traveling if possible and I would warn them that there are a lot of nervous and potentially dangerous police on the street.
When it comes right down to it, its just a symptom of the government imposed disease that imports our enemies and strips us of rights as a result.