photo by: Contributed

Retired Cpl. Matt Weidl poses with retired Patrol Service Dog Cheeseburger on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, at the Lawrence Police Department headquarters, 5100 Overland Drive.

A Lawrence K-9 officer retired this week after 26 years on the force working with multiple patrol dogs.

Cpl. Matt Weidl served the Lawrence community for 26 years most recently as a K-9 officer, according to a post on social media from the department. In a celebration at the Lawrence Police Department headquarters, 5100 Overland Drive, Weidl was greeted on Monday by numerous officers and two of his former four-legged colleagues, Cheeseburger and Taz.

Cheeseburger retired in June of 2023 after serving 8 with the department 2023. Taz was trained by Weidl and joined the department in the fall of 2023.

Throughout Weidl’s career he served as a patrol officer, worked in investigations, and trained other officers. He also served on the department’s motorcycle patrol, drug enforcement unit, and the crisis response team, according to the post.

photo by: Contributed

Retired Lawrence Police Cpl. Matt Weidl poses with Patrol Service Dog Taz on Dec. 30, 2024.