Day 4: [AITAH]+ For Giving My Detectives Traffic Duty After Their Stunt? by Nicoltyler

An S/H Present Tense story that brings Bay City characters into the present.

Posted by AnnoyedCaptain34. Found on reddit by Nicoltyler

* Am I the Ass Hole

Good morning, people!

I’m a police captain, and I’ve got a bit of a situation with two of my detectives that I need some advice on.

So, here’s the cast:

    • Detective One: Let’s call him Smartass. He’s a detective.
    • Detective Two: We’ll call him PainInMyAss. He’s also a detective and Smartass’s partner.

They drive a red-striped Torino that honestly looks more like a parade float. PainInMyAss is usually a good driver but drives half-crazy most of the time.

The problem started when they were chasing some robbery suspects. PainInMyAss was driving, tried to avoid hitting something, and ended up crashing. Both of them went to the hospital for a few days. PainInMyAss was mostly okay, but Smartass pretended to have amnesia. He convinced me and everyone else that he couldn’t remember anything from the incident, his partner Paininmyass, or anybody else.

Turns out, Smartass was faking the whole thing to teach PainInMyAss a lesson or something. They tried to pull the wool over my eyes, but I figured it out—thanks to a nurse who let it slip.

Once I got wind of their little stunt, I decided it was time to teach them a lesson. So, I assigned them both to traffic duty. PainInMyAss is furious and says it’s not fair. He claims it was all Smartass’s idea and doesn’t see why he should be punished too. I told him it’s because Smartass is his partner, and they’re in this together.

Here’s some more context: Smartass and PainInMyAss are known for their unconventional methods, but they usually get results. However, this time they crossed a line. The crash caused significant damage to public property and put their own lives at risk. Smartass’s fake amnesia stunt was the last straw for me. It was unprofessional and could have had serious consequences if I hadn’t figured it out in time.

PainInMyAss has been sulking and making a big deal out of it, saying I’m being too harsh. He argues that he wasn’t in on Smartass’s plan and shouldn’t be punished for it. But from my perspective, they’re a team. They need to have each other’s backs, but also hold each other accountable. By giving them traffic duty, I hope they learn to work together more responsibly.

So, AITAH for making both of them do traffic duty for this stunt? Should I have handled it differently, or was this the right move to ensure they understand the consequences of their actions?

– AnnoyedCaptain34

8 thoughts on “Day 4: [AITAH]+ For Giving My Detectives Traffic Duty After Their Stunt? by Nicoltyler”

  1. LOL! Oh good grief, but this is priceless. AnnoyedCaptain34 did the right thing. Nicol. you are a true genius. *applauds*

  3. Dear AnnoyedCaptain34:

    You are not the a**hole. PitA and Smartass are exhibiting risky behavior; as their boss, it’s your job to do what you have to do to make your detectives slow down and give their actions some deep consideration. I would imagine that traffick duty will give them some time to think.

    Quick frankly, I’m mystified that PitA, “usually a good driver,” would crash in the first place. Did you ask your detectives what went wrong? Also, does Smartass have a record of pulling funny-not-funny stunts? If the behavior of both detectives is out of character, perhaps something that has nothing to do with the job is the problem.

    Your letter inspires more questions than answers, but I’m glad you’ve got your two a**holes on traffic duty. Sounds like they both need to cool off.

    Here’s hoping you provide an update.

    Warm regards,
    CuriousCopLover71

  4. “PainInMyAss doth protest too much, methinks.” Even if it wasn’t his original plan, it doesn’t sound like he came clean to you when he did find out, as you had to get wind of it from a nurse. So, tell him to quit sulking! And as for Smartass, he doesn’t have a leg to stand on either! Traffic duty was the right decision – they needed to be in it together, as a team!

    Next time, (let’s hope there isn’t a next time), you could have them work in Records, pulling files, and so forth for all the other working detectives who need information in a hurry. It wouldn’t hurt them to be on the receiving side of “Pronto! I don’t care how long it takes, I need it now!”

  5. NTAH! So absolutely NTAH! Even if they do usually get results with their unconventional methods, you’re the boss, and you’re the one who would have to call their loved ones if they were seriously injured by any of their… pranks?… or whatever. Put them in their place on this one.

    Nicol, I love AnnoyedCaptain34’s POV! More please?

  6. Geez! Are these your detectives or your toddlers??? NTA!

    Nicol, if you can ever find another post by this guy…I like his style. ; )

  7. NTAH. No doubt about it, they were not the AH. That stupid stunt was terrible and they are lucky nothing irreversible occurred as a result.

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