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 K-9 officer who spent more than two decades with the Lawrence Police Department and has worked with multiple patrol dogs retired this week.

Cpl. Matt Weidl worked for the Lawrence Police Department 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 eight years with the department. Taz was trained by Weidl and joined the department in the fall of 2023.

Throughout Weidl’s career, he also 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.