A police officer has been shamed online for displaying a skull representing a fictional, murderous vigilante on the back of his vehicle.
The picture of the officer’s New South Wales Highway Patrol car was shared to Facebook on Monday, enraging members of the public for its purported symbolism of lawlessness.
The car’s back windshield was adorned with the iconic skull belonging to Marvel Comics character The Punisher – a former militant obsessed with vengeance who takes the law into his own hands through violent means.
Community Facebook page Police in the Area slammed the officer for displaying the skull in North Sydney on Monday, labelling it as ‘inappropriate’.
A police officer has been shamed online for displaying a skull representing a fictional, murderous vigilante on the back of his vehicle (pictured)
The car’s back windshield was adorned with the iconic skull belonging to Marvel Comics character The Punisher (pictured)
‘In parts of this country you get alienated, harassed, obstructed, silently accused and photographed for the insignia you wear on your clothing,’ the page wrote.
‘Insignia that the police say represents living outside of the law. No other symbol signifies living outside the law like the punisher skull.
‘This insignia represents extra-judicial killing. Completely inappropriate for a police force.’
But others disagreed with the post, saying a sticker representing a fictional character shouldn’t be taken seriously.
Community Facebook page Police in the Area slammed the officer for displaying the skull on the Highway Patrol car (stock image) in North Sydney on Monday
Some disagreed with the post, saying the sticker (pictured) representing a fictional character shouldn’t be taken seriously
‘If you don’t commit crimes you don’t have anything to worry about,’ one person wrote.
Another wrote: ‘Over dramatic much?’
One person suggested the sticker was placed on the vehicle to represent honourable characteristics of The Punisher.
‘I think the reason behind it being on the police vehicle would be to have honour, be brave and also have determination,’ the person wrote.
A NSWP spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: ‘There is an expectation that when all New South Police Force vehicles are seen by the community of NSW, they are presented at a high standard at all times.’