Ep 17. Brother, Can You Spare a Crime?

Sledge Hammer! season 1 episode 17 named "Brother, Can You Spare a Crime?" follows our titular character Sledge Hammer, a gun-toting, tough-talking police detective who will stop at nothing to uphold the law.

In this episode, Sledge Hammer crosses paths with a veteran cop named Ned Donnelly, who is down on his luck. Ned is forced to live in his car and has hit rock bottom after being booted from the police department due to allegations of corruption. Sledge Hammer takes pity on Ned and offers to help him get his job back, thus setting off a chain of events that leads to an unexpected twist.

Sledge Hammer and Ned investigate a string of robberies that have been happening around town, with the culprits stealing only meager amounts of cash. Sledge doesn't think much of it until he discovers that the robbers are all wearing police uniforms. The investigation takes a turn when Sledge and Ned realize that the robbers are former cops who are struggling to make ends meet after being kicked off the force for various infractions.

The duo goes undercover as potential robbers to try to get closer to the suspects. Sledge woos one of the suspects, a female former cop named Doreen, and the two start a steamy romance. Meanwhile, Ned struggles with his morals as he tries to go along with the plan.

As the investigation progresses, Sledge and Ned begin to see things less black and white. They start to empathize with the former cops and acknowledge the difficult circumstances they face. Meanwhile, the robbers' motives come into question, and it's revealed that there is more to the story than simple greed.

In the end, a confrontation between Sledge, Ned, and the robbers results in a surprising twist that forces the two detectives to reflect on their own actions and motivations.

"Brother, Can You Spare a Crime?" is a thought-provoking episode that explores the complex nature of right and wrong in a world full of shades of gray. Through the characters of Sledge Hammer and Ned Donnelly, the episode deftly illustrates the human propensity for empathy and the way that actions - even well-intentioned ones - can have unintended consequences. With a host of colorful characters and plenty of action, this episode is a standout in the first season of Sledge Hammer!