For more than a decade, Kevin Atwater has been one of the constants on Chicago P.D.
Through cast shakeups, heartbreaking exits, and countless dangerous cases, he remained one of the Intelligence Unit’s most dependable officers.
Now, that chapter is coming to an end.
LaRoyce Hawkins is officially leaving Chicago P.D. during Season 14 after portraying Kevin Atwater since the series premiered in 2014. Deadline was the first to report the departure on July 2, 2026, revealing that Hawkins would return for the first two or three episodes of Season 14 to wrap up Atwater’s storyline before leaving as a series regular.
Entertainment Weekly, TVLine and People subsequently reported the departure, with those outlets also confirming that Hawkins’ Season 14 appearance will be limited to the opening episodes.
For longtime viewers, this is the departure of one of the show’s remaining original cast members.
Kevin Atwater Quietly Became The Soul Of Chicago P.D.
Atwater never needed to be the loudest person in the room.
From the beginning, the character was positioned differently from some of the more volatile members of Hank Voight’s Intelligence Unit. His development from patrol officer into a more experienced detective gave the series one of its steadier character arcs.
Hawkins has been part of Chicago P.D. since its 2014 debut, appearing as Kevin Atwater throughout all 13 seasons so far. His character originally appeared in the Chicago Fire universe before becoming part of Chicago P.D.‘s main cast.
That makes his departure particularly significant. A character who has been present since the beginning is now being written out just as the series enters its fourteenth season.
Season 14 Will Start With Atwater’s Final Episodes
The good news for viewers is that Hawkins isn’t disappearing before the new season begins.
According to Deadline’s original report, Hawkins will appear in the first two or three episodes of Season 14, giving the writers an opportunity to complete Atwater’s storyline rather than removing him between seasons.
TV Insider later reported that filming on Hawkins’ final episodes had been completed, with the actor receiving a farewell from cast and crew after wrapping his work on the season.
His exact final episode and the circumstances of Atwater’s departure have not been revealed.
Atwater’s Season 13 Storyline Makes His Exit Even More Interesting
The timing of Hawkins’ departure is particularly notable because of what happened to Atwater in Season 13.
Atwater rekindled his relationship with Officer Tasha Fox, played by Karen Obilom. Tasha eventually left Chicago for a job in Miami, but later returned with major news: she was pregnant with Atwater’s child.
That storyline gives the writers an obvious direction for Atwater’s future.
One possibility is that he could leave Chicago to be with Tasha and their child in Miami. TVLine and Entertainment Weekly both noted that possibility, although neither presented it as confirmed.
So while fans already have theories about how Atwater might leave, the actual ending remains under wraps.
Why Atwater’s Departure Matters
Chicago P.D. has experienced plenty of major cast departures over the years.
Jon Seda, Sophia Bush, Jesse Lee Soffer and Tracy Spiridakos have all left the series, while other characters have entered and reshaped the Intelligence Unit.
Hawkins’ exit is different because Atwater has been there for virtually the entire run of the show.
He isn’t a character introduced halfway through the series. He is one of the actors who helped establish what the Intelligence Unit looked like in the first place.
That makes Season 14 another major transition for Chicago P.D.
The Show Is Already Looking For A Replacement
Hawkins’ departure will also create a vacancy in the Intelligence Unit.
Deadline reported that Chicago P.D. is casting a new series regular to join the show. The character is described as a Black police officer who is “an agent of chaos.”
That description suggests the series isn’t simply trying to recreate Atwater.
Instead, Season 14 appears to be introducing someone who could bring a very different personality into the Intelligence Unit.
Exactly how that new character fits into Voight’s team remains to be seen.
LaRoyce Hawkins Has Finished Filming His Final Episode
The departure has also moved beyond casting news.
In August, TV Insider reported that Hawkins had finished filming his return for Season 14. Photos and videos from his final day showed cast and crew celebrating the actor after he completed his work on the series.
That means the remaining question isn’t whether Hawkins is leaving.
It’s how Chicago P.D. will choose to say goodbye to Kevin Atwater.
Chicago P.D. Season 14 Release Date
Season 14 of Chicago P.D. premieres on October 7, 2026, at 10/9c on NBC. Hawkins is expected to appear during the opening episodes before Atwater’s storyline comes to an end.
After 13 seasons, the Intelligence Unit is about to lose one of its longest-serving members.
And unlike many recent Chicago P.D. departures, this one will be felt from the very first episodes of the new season.
