After more than a decade portraying Officer Kevin Atwater, LaRoyce Hawkins is preparing to say goodbye to Chicago P.D.. While the NBC drama returns this fall for Season 14, fans will only have a few episodes before one of the show’s original stars makes his emotional exit.

Chicago P.D. is officially returning for its 14th season on October 7, continuing NBC’s popular One Chicago Wednesday lineup alongside Chicago Med and Chicago Fire. But the new season will also mark the end of an era, as original cast member LaRoyce Hawkins prepares to leave the long-running police drama.

Hawkins, who has portrayed Officer Kevin Atwater since the series premiered in 2014, will appear in only the first two or three episodes of Season 14 before making his on-screen exit. Assuming the show follows its regular weekly schedule, his farewell episode is expected to air on either October 14 or October 21.

While NBC has yet to reveal exactly how Atwater’s story will conclude, early reports suggest the beloved detective will be written out of the series rather than killed off, leaving the door open for a possible return in the future.

Hawkins’ departure marks another significant cast change for the One Chicago franchise, where longtime characters have increasingly moved on after years with their respective series.

Season 14 will continue to follow the Chicago Police Department’s elite Intelligence Unit as they investigate organized crime, drug trafficking, high-profile murders, and other dangerous cases across the city. Returning cast members include Jason Beghe as Sergeant Hank Voight, Marina Squerciati as Detective Kim Burgess, Patrick John Flueger as Officer Adam Ruzek, Benjamin Levy Aguilar as Officer Dante Torres, Amy Morton as Desk Sergeant Trudy Platt, and Arienne Mandi as Officer Eva Imani.

Although NBC has not yet released an official trailer, production is already underway. Marina Squerciati recently shared a behind-the-scenes photo from the set, confirming that filming has begun ahead of the show’s October premiere.

As one of the few original cast members remaining, Hawkins has played a key role in shaping Chicago P.D. over the past decade. His portrayal of Kevin Atwater—known for balancing tough policing with deeply personal storylines addressing race, justice, and loyalty—has made him one of the franchise’s most respected and beloved characters.

With only a handful of episodes left before his departure, fans are now preparing to say goodbye to one of Chicago P.D.’s longest-serving officers.

Source: https://www.tvinsider.com/