I'm sure he means well... I mean... if some kid's been able to turn his Airsoft gun into a fully semi-automatic AK49 Super Magnum Cop Killer Assault Thingie gun, jeepers, what then???
I seriously have ever known a small department chief who wore four stars to ever be worth more than a bucket of warm spit. Four stars? Order those in the mail? How many three stars report to you? Any other officers on the force? A couple of captains? Then here, wear major insignia. You will still out rank them.