Police Chief Removes Flag With Logo Symbolizing Vigilante Justice

Pasadena Police Chief John Perez told Pasadena Now that he has taken down a flag that hung in the department’s gymnasium for three years after concerns over its symbolism and meaning surfaced this past week.

The flag contained an emblem associated with the Marvel Comic book character and has recently been connected to the Blue Lives Matter movement and far right conspiracy group.

The Punisher is a Marvel Comic book character named Frank Castle. Fictional Castle, a former police officer, violently murders criminals after his family is brutally murdered. The comic was adapted into a popular Netflix series that lasted two seasons.

The character’s skull emblem has been reproduced nationwide by police on social media, t-shirts and police cars.

Perez said he did not know anything about the fictional character until last week when controversy began swirling around the flag, which contains a blue line representing support for officers who have been killed in the line of duty.

After he became aware of its symbolism, he researched the character and decided it was not appropriate.

Things came to a head after City Manager Steve Mermell, members of the City Council, and the NAACP received an anonymous letter claiming Perez does not support Black officers in the department.

Pasadena Now also received a copy of the letter.

“Police Chief John Perez has not publicly proclaimed that Black Lives Matter,” the letter reads. “Nor has he taken any time to tell the Black employees that he works with that he understands their predicament and will make sure they feel safe at work. He has not condemned the officers that weaken the shield by committing acts of brutality, instead he has chosen to coddle the police force.”

The letter also includes accusations against several officers by name for sexual misconduct and driving under the influence. Pasadena Now is not naming those officers because we cannot corroborate the accusations.

When Pasadena Now asked Perez to respond to the letter, Perez indicated he believes that the letter had come from within the department and said he supports equality and current calls for change.

“It’s unfortunate that we have an employee who decided to release their letter to the City Council without checking the inaccuracies and the legality of releasing disciplinary records based on court decisions and legislative bills,” Perez said. “The accusation that I am not supporting the greatest social changes since the Civil Rights era doesn’t seem consistent with my own values, community contributions, and the changes I have developed and implemented.”

Perez also pointed to his record on diversity. Since he took over as Police Chief, Perez has built a management team comprised of nearly 30 percent Black executives, 38 percent women. In total, minorities make up forty-seven percent of the team. Those stats include the department’s first Female Black Deputy Chief Cheryl Moody.

 Nationally, the Pasadena Police Department’s workforce has a higher percentage of minorities than the majority of all U.S. Police Departments.  Compared locally, 65 percent of Pasadena police employees are minority as compared to our own community with a 46 percent minority population.

Additionally, Perez is the first local Police Chief to support civilian oversight and has pushed for more transparency in the department.

Last month, reporters were allowed to view critical footage of an officer-involved shooting. Earlier this month footage was released of officers searching a home during a hoax suicide call after Pasadena Now published a story about that incident.

The letter comes as the city’s Public Safety Committee continues its discussion on civilian oversight of the police department. That discussion could go before to the City Council on Aug. 3

PSC Chair John Kennedy told Pasadena Now that he still supports Perez and considers the issue over.

“Supposedly, the new skull symbol is meant to remind the Punisher about the collateral incurred over the course of his career as a murderous vigilante, which is meant to remind him of what he has done whenever he starts to think about becoming otherwise.” Kennedy said. “If that statement is true, the Punisher flag is not an appropriate symbol to display anywhere on city-owned property, particularly not in the Pasadena Police Department.”

“The proverbial buck stops with Police Chief John Perez and I believe he has ordered the removal of the flag.  As far as I’m concerned the issue is resolved. I expect that all first responders in the employ of the City receive regular training that seeks to remove bias and bad behavior from their service to our community.  I believe Police Chief John Perez enjoys the full support of the City Council, he certainly has my support.”

Perez told Pasadena Now he spoke to the retired employee who placed the flag in the gym three years ago and that employee said the flag was placed as “a reminder to officers to stay fit and stay ready in the field.”

Perez said he did not find the Punisher emblem anywhere else in the department.

“The Punisher flag is also unfortunate, it has been on the fitness wall for nearly three years, and it is not represented anywhere in the department,” Perez said. “Not on uniforms, hats, cars, desks, or anywhere else that I am aware of.  I removed the flag from the wall the same day after assessing the concern. In speaking with the retired employee who placed the flag on the wall, it represents all fallen police officers and the importance of wellness and fitness while being prepared for the physical needs of the profession.”

“I also discovered it is a Marvel Comics creation and a Netflix series based on a vigilante who hunts down the criminals who killed his family.  I concluded there wasn’t a need for the flag on the fitness wall and it was removed.”

Ironically, Marvel writers addressed police officers’ admiration for the character in an issue of the book through the character’s own words.

Newsweek reported last July, that after being cornered in an alley by cops who began fawning over him, and even asked to take a selfie with Castle to share on their Punisher fan page, the fictional character beat down the police and explained why they shouldn’t adore him.

“I’ll only say this once: We’re not the same. You took an oath to uphold the law. You help people. I gave that up a long time ago,” the fictional character stated. “You don’t do what I do. Nobody does. You boys need a role model? His name is Captain America and he’d be happy to have you.”

Use of the Punisher logo by the Blue Lives Matter movement has been criticized by activists and decried by the creators of the character.

Writer Gerry Conway, who created the Punisher with artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru in 1974, compared the use of the logo by police to city governments flying the Confederate Flag.

“When cops put Punisher skulls on their cars or members of the military wear Punisher skull patches, they’re basically [siding] with an enemy of the system,” Conway told SyFyWire in 2019. “Whether you think the Punisher is justified or not, whether you admire his code of ethics, he is an outlaw—he is a criminal. Police should not be embracing a criminal as their symbol.”

A month after the issue was released, a police department in Kentucky removed Punisher logos emblazoned with the “Blue Lives Matter” slogan from eight cars, citing complaints from residents about glorifying a killer.

“I was very fortunate to receive an overwhelming response from police employees and their discontent with the letter,” Perez said. “This coming week, I will host internal department sessions with all employees regarding their concerns and hear recommendations in moving forward.  I realize this is an attempt to change the Chief of Police and if that discussion is needed, we must demand it as a community.”