What If #10 Mid grade (1990)

The story opens with the Castle family enjoying a picnic in Central Park, which is interrupted by a rain squall and the family elects to go home. Bruno Costa, Skinner and Kolsky (the three murderers in the original) are hiding in the bushes and fear they will be exposed, but in this storyline, one of the trio convinces the other two to stay hidden, as murdering civilians will bring untold heat on them that they do not need.

As such, the wife and kids are not murdered by mobsters and the family returns home as planned. That night, Frank tells his wife how even during the darkest days of the Vietnam War that he could always depend on his fellow Marines for teamwork and esprit de corps, and that he has been accepted to the police academy as that is the best civilian job he knows that has like dedication.

The Watcher continues his tale by saying "Several months later, Frank Castle became a full-fledged member of the constabulary of New York City", where he is now known as Patrolman Castle. He is partnered with a more experienced cop, Officer McGuire, who shows him some of the underground activities alongside their route.