You know the feeling as you round the bend and there he is — The Law, in his cruiser with radar gun.

They can be anywhere. I popped the trail hill (in my running shoes!) and coming up the other side is an officer (on his bicycle!). No I wasn’t busted for speeding but illegal begal just the same. My jogging partner was sans leash. We passed each other in only a blink. The cop was preoccupied with the navigation, negotiating the ruts and maintaining the momentum. He glanced at me and I saw the look — and the brain registered the violation but he was out of whack. Unable to coil and strike right then. His snap-shot (friend or foe) image of my dawg was a potential distraction. After all, he is a police dog, (friend) but the encounter was brief and in another instant we were all out of range.