Okay, that's fine, FL, but so far, multiple sources show that there WAS a firefight at the boat. The cops backed off, that part makes sense, but not before returning fire.
Which goes back to my earlier point --
I had stated that the Mass. State Police were on the scene. Evidently this isn't the case -- Boston Police and unnamed federal agents arrived, based on the UK Daily Mail story.
Regardless which cops were on the scene, they apparently just decided to shoot at the boat, managing to hit the perp in the leg and neck. Here you have cops (granted they'd just been fired upon, which causes the pucker factor to go up to levels most likely never before seen by these cops) who have taken cover and have targeted a boat. Let's say for the sake of argument it's a dozen cops.
They return fire and they can't permanently put the critter down. Then, of course, the head shed orders the cops on the scene to cease fire.
Looking at the layout and the relative close proximity to homes in the area, that part was prudent. God knows how many rounds went askew since those guys have trouble hitting their target.
Stop hi-fiving each other, boys, and get your asses to the range. You've got work to do.