>>113138848I think while that would/should feasibly happen, the Joker's continued existence is just a writing side effect of this being a serialized comic that needs the villains to keep coming back (and arguably the more self aware version that people know ghosts and the supernatural exists and nobody wants to risk creating a Ghost Joker :V)
But to play ball here, and assuming this is well into Joker's career and not at the start or part of a movie timeline: if a 'rogue' cop just up and shot Joker to death--suddenly, far enough away from Batman being able to interfere-- this policeman would be untouchable in the eyes of the law.
Gordon may transfer him, he may be furious, but public opinion would shield this guy from prosecution beyond some minor infringement shit. Who in their right mind would want to prosecute? If Batman shows up to trounce this cop, then some shitty hack is writing it. All Batman could do is try to step up his own game so the super villains don't get riddled with bullets the moment he walks them into a precinct.
...though this does give me the amusing image of Gotham criminals being relieved to see Batman show up instead of the police, becoming more frightened of the fuzz than a vigilante.
But really the worst case scenario out of this is copy cat slayings. One guy got away with Joker, so some other cop shoots Penguin in the face. And then Poison Ivy is found dead in her cell, Two-face is just executed in the back of a cop car, etc. etc. and then any two bit hoodlum who rose above purse snatching is just gonna be gunned down.
