A police department in Kentucky removed 'Blue Lives Matter' decals featuring the Marvel comic character The Punisher from their patrol cars after public outcry.

Catlettsburg Police Chief Cameron Logan, who helped create the decals as a way to 'give back to the police officers', said both the city council and mayor approved of the design, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.

While many locals were supportive of the decals, others said the message was dismissive to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Critics also pointed out that the Punisher is a vigilante who fights crime through brutal means like torture, murder and extortion - making the association with a police force a disturbing one.

Catlettsburg Police Chief Cameron Logan (left) helped create the decals for the patrol cars (left), which featured a Punisher skull design with the words 'Blue Lives Matter'

Logan enlisted a decal business in Louisiana and the large design, featuring the Punisher skull with 'Blues Lives Matter' emblazoned over it, was added to the patrol cars in December.

The police chief defended his decision to the Lexington Herald-Leader, saying: '“That design is basically to give back to the police officers. Our lives matter just as much as anybody’s.

'I’m not racist or anything like that, I’m not trying to stir anything up like that. I consider it to be a 'warrior logo'.

'Just 'cause it has 'Blue Lives Matter' on the hood, all lives matter. That decal represents that we will take any means necessary to keep our community safe.'

Logan added that the city council consisting of six people, along with Mayor Randall Peterman, had approved the designs.

When images of the patrol cars were posted on Kentucky Going Blue, a Facebook page dedicated to supporting law enforcement officers, the response was enthusiastic.

While many locals were supportive of the decals, others said the message was dismissive to the Black Lives Matter movement

Critics also pointed out that the Punisher character (left) fights crime through brutal means like torture, murder and extortion. But the logo has been used widely among law enforcement and servicemen (right)

But critics wondered how much the decals cost, while others said it was dismissive to those who had suffered at the hands of the police.

Richard Brown, who was elected to the city council after the decals were approved, questioned why the police department would waste money on the decals.

He added: 'They’re risking their lives and I understand that. I just think it’s a little bit strange. There’s been a lot of people mistreated by police, and their lives matter, too, like that guy in North Carolina.'

Brown was referring to Keith Lamont Scott, who was shot dead in September by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer in North Carolina.

Scott's death prompted protests around the country, and Officer Brentley Vinson was been cleared of criminal charges.

Other critics of the decal said the Punisher skull, which has been used widely among servicemen.

One Reddit user wrote: 'Channeling the Punisher seems like a really poorly thought out message for a law enforcement agency to be putting out there.'