That is probably true. However, the police did not have the manpower necessary to prevent this. They needed the National Guard, which is only now arriving, after the fact. The Chief's comment that even if they had 10,000 officers they could not have prevented this is a lie and a weak excuse. Why was the National Guard unavailable? It was Governor Nixon's (D) decision, made contrary to a request last week from the Ferguson Mayor. I suspect this whole event was planned by Democrats from top to bottom: Nixon, Holder and Obama, as agitprop for a national political agenda.
He should be fired on the spot for a stupid statement like that. It shows he had no intention of doing anything to hinder the thugs.