photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Lawrence Police Corporal Matt Weidl, center, passes the leash of, now retired, Patrol Service Dog Cheeseburger to Sgt. Ron Ivener, left, and his family on June 8, 2023, at the Lawrence Police Department Headquarters. Police Chief Rich Lockhart can be seen on the right.

The retirement party at the Lawrence police headquarters had cakes, treats and speeches like any other. And its guest of honor, like any law enforcement retiree, had seen his share of arrests, searches and investigations.

But Thursday’s party wasn’t for a two-legged officer — it was for Cheeseburger, the 10-year-old German shepherd who spent eight years on the Lawrence Police Department’s K-9 unit.

Cheeseburger, known by his colleagues as C.B., started his career in 2015 and was one of the department’s first patrol dogs, as the Journal-World has reported. His longtime handler, Corporal Matt Weidl, was at the ceremony to pass his leash off to Sgt. Ron Ivener, who will care for Cheeseburger in retirement.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Patrol Service Dog Cheeseburger during his “Passing of the Leash” retirement ceremony on June 8, 2023, at the Lawrence Police Department headquarters.

The ending of Cheeseburger’s career is bittersweet for Weidl, who looked back Thursday on the crucial work Cheeseburger had done.

“He has been one of the greatest partners,” Weidl said. “He’s helped us solve a lot of things, locating some of the bad guys that we really needed to locate and a very good deterrent for a lot of the criminals.”

But Weidl said that although he may miss working with Cheeseburger, he was confident that the dog was going to a good home. The Iveners have a 9-year-old dog named Monty, he said, and the two dogs have already met and get along well.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Sgt. Ron Ivener speaks during a retirement ceremony for Patrol Service Dog Cheeseburger on June 8, 2023. Ivener and his family are taking Cheeseburger into their home to care for the dog during its retirement.

Ivener said he, his wife and their four children were excited to welcome Cheeseburger to their family, and happy that Monty — “probably the laziest dog,” Ivener said — would have a new friend to hang out with. Cheeseburger will also be getting some retirement gifts from the Iveners, who have already purchased both dogs all kinds of treats and new toys.

“I’m happy for him,” Weidl said. “I’m glad that Ron and his family stepped up to take Cheeseburger. I know that he’s going to do good.”

Still, it will be a bit of an adjustment for the veteran K-9, who Weidl said has already started to miss his daily patrol duties. Weidl said he’d started working with a new patrol dog who will be introduced to the community in the coming weeks, and that Cheeseburger has been upset about not getting to go with them.

“When I grabbed the new dog to load him up in the car, he (Cheeseburger) would whine. For eight years, he’s known as soon as my car starts up, it’s time to get to work. So, I know he’s going to miss it,” Weidl said

The Iveners are doing their best to make the transition smoother and let Cheeseburger know they care, Weidl said — “Look at the affection he’s getting. A lot more than I can give him.”

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Cpl. Matt Weidl pets Patrol Service Dog Cheeseburger during the dog’s retirement ceremony on June 8, 2023, at the Lawrence Police Department Headquarters.

Chief Rich Lockhart spoke at the ceremony, too, and praised the work of Cheeseburger and his fellow K-9s with both Lawrence police and other area law enforcement agencies.

“Patrol service dogs are invaluable members of the department used to de-escalate dangerous situations and with … training in criminal apprehension, handler protection and narcotics detection,” Lockhart said.

In addition to Weidl’s new patrol dog, the department has two other dogs currently in service, Mack and Shadow. Another patrol dog, Deuce, retired last year after a leg injury.

Also in attendance at the ceremony were more than a dozen LPD officers, District Attorney Suzanne Valdez and Deputy District Attorney Joshua Seiden, and Emily Fawcett with Friends of the K9 Vest Midwest, who raises money to get bulletproof vests for dogs across the state.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Police Chief Rich Lockhart, right, pets Patrol Service Dog Cheeseburger aong with his handler, Corporal Matt Weidl, during the dog’s retirement ceremony on June 8, 2023.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Sgt. Ron Ivener gets close with his new dog Cheeseburger on June 8, 2023. Cheeseburger retired from the Lawrence Police Department after 8 years of service and Ivener’s family is taking the dog in for its retirement.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

A cheeseburger shaped cake, for people, and a cake for a dog were served during a retirement ceremony for Patrol Service Dog Cheeseburger on June 8, 2023. Cheeseburger was one of the Lawrence Police Department’s first K9 units and is retiring after 8 years of service.