With Frank Castle coming to the big screen, I feel it’s time for a serious conversation, and it starts with this: members of law enforcement, you are not The Punisher.
You are not a lone warrior, dispensing vengeance in a broken world.
You are most certainly not above the law.
And if you’re wearing Frank’s skull on your vest, patrol car, or duty bag, you are NOT cool; you are what’s wrong with the system.
Who is Frank Castle?
The Punisher, Frank Castle, is a fictional character who rejects the rule of law. He operates outside the justice system because he believes it has failed. That doesn’t mean he’s wrong, but there’s a key difference here.
His mission is simple: kill bad guys. No arrests. No trials. Just blood, bullets, and bodies. He is a vigilante born of personal tragedy and rage.
You are NOT Frank Castle. You Never Will Be.
You are not Frank.
And you never will be.
You are a public servant.
You are part of the establishment.
So why, then, have you hijacked Frank’s symbol, intended as a warning, a critique. Why has it become so popular among police officers and corrections staff?
It must be because it feels powerful.
Because it projects fear.
And because, for some of your ilk, it’s easier to adopt a tough-guy mythos than to reckon with the real responsibilities of your badge and the job you’re supposed to be doing: de-escalation, community trust, due process, and protecting the very people who challenge you most.
And maybe, to admit that you’re failing at it.
But here’s the problem: when you as a member of law enforcement co-opt The Punisher logo, it sends a message; not just to the public, but to your own colleagues.
First, that you’re an asshole of the highest order and you definitely didn’t watch The Punisher or Daredevil. And if you did, you clearly didn’t understand it. Frank’s symbol tells the world that you’ve lost faith in the system.
That you personally see yourself as judge, jury, and executioner.
That accountability is optional.
That brutality is not the exception, but your personal brand.
What Does Marvel Have to Say About It?
Even the creators of The Punisher comic have condemned this trend and want to reclaim the symbol, and rightfully so. Marvel has publicly disavowed the use of the Punisher skull by law enforcement, and co-creator Gerry Conway couldn’t say it any plainer for you:
The Punisher is representative of the failure of law and order to address the concerns of people who feel abandoned by the legal system. It always struck me as stupid and ironic that members of the police are embracing what is fundamentally an outlaw symbol.
The System Is Broken.
Yes, the justice system is horribly broken.
I know that. You should know that.
But the answer isn’t cosplay. It’s reform. It’s community. It’s re-earning the public’s trust, not intimidating people into silence.
You know what’s most frustrating? You know the system is broken and YOU have the power to do something about it; to be part of the solution. But nah, you chose a sticker because you’re lazy, it’s easy, and it looks cool.
Newsflash: you look like a schmuck.
If you’re a cop, a corrections officer, or anyone working within law enforcement, get your head right, and do the job you swore an oath to do.
To protect. To serve. To uphold the Constitution, even when it’s hard.
The Punisher doesn’t wear a badge.
He doesn’t take the stand.
He doesn’t care about civil rights.
But you are supposed to and should.
Seriously, Knock It Off.
Stop looking like an asshole. Take the skull off your cruiser.
Peel it off your helmet.
And remember: if you’re allegedly here and being paid to uphold justice, you don’t need to pretend to be a vigilante.
You just need to be better than the shitty cops and corrections officers who forgot what justice really is.
