Marmaduke has been identified as the ringleader of a gang of criminal dogs by a lady dressed as an acorn, who was apparently the target of some sort of wrongdoing perpetrated by said gang. The police officer's sideways glance towards the reader indicates that he is not taking her complaint very seriously, but the fact that he took the time to round up and arrange three dogs on a miniature police lineup contradicts this air of mild annoyance.