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LaRoyce Hawkins to Exit NBC’s “Chicago P.D.” as Series Regular in Season 14, Deadline Reports
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Culture/The Apex Times/Jul 2, 12:35 PM EDT

LaRoyce Hawkins to Exit NBC’s “Chicago P.D.” as Series Regular in Season 14, Deadline Reports

The actor, who has played Kevin Atwater since the NBC police drama’s beginning, is set to step away after 13 seasons, with plans to return briefly to conclude his character’s storyline early in the show’s next season.

3 min readEditor-approved Apex article

NBC police drama “Chicago P.D.” is preparing for a major cast transition as LaRoyce Hawkins, an original series regular, is expected to leave the show ahead of its Season 14 run, according to Deadline. Hawkins has portrayed Intelligence Unit member Kevin Atwater for 13 seasons, and Deadline reports that he will depart the series as a series regular rather than remain a long-term mainstay.

Deadline reports that Hawkins will return only for a limited arc to wrap up Atwater’s storyline in the first two or three episodes of Season 14. The report describes the move as a planned exit that still provides a on-screen resolution for a character who has been central to the series’ Intelligence Unit and longtime ensemble plotlines.

A separate part of the report states that “Chicago P.D.” is currently casting a new series regular. Deadline characterizes the incoming role as a Black cop who is an agent of chaos, though no actor is named in the report and no character details beyond that description are provided.

While the production plan for Hawkins’ exit is described as coming from sources, Deadline also notes that a representative for Wolf Entertainment, which produces the One Chicago franchise with Universal Television, declined comment. No official statement from NBC or the show itself appears in the supplied materials.

The timing matters for viewers because “Chicago P.D.” has also been building a major personal storyline for Atwater. In an April 15, 2026 interview with NBC Insider, Hawkins discussed Season 13 plot developments in which Atwater prepares to become a father, with the network highlighting that development as a significant milestone for the character heading into later episodes.

That context helps frame what kind of conclusion the early Season 14 episodes are expected to deliver for Atwater. In the NBC Insider coverage, the network’s synopsis of Atwater’s arc focuses on personal changes that extend beyond routine case work, suggesting the character’s exit would be handled as more than a simple transfer or off-screen departure, though Deadline’s report does not specify what the resolution will include.

NBC has also tied its Season 14 schedule to a premiere date and distribution plan. NBC Insider states that the Season 14 premiere is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC, with the next-day release on Peacock. With Hawkins’ limited return reported for the opening episodes, the actor’s final full on-screen presence as a series regular would align with the transition into that October premiere period.

For audiences and the broader One Chicago cast, the change represents another adjustment after a long run. “Chicago P.D.” began in 2014 and, by the time Season 14 arrives, will be entering a new phase in its main lineup. How the series recalibrates the Intelligence Unit’s roster and workflow after Atwater’s departure, and how the newly cast series regular is integrated, are expected to be clarified as casting and episode-by-episode announcements proceed.

Why It Matters

  • A long-running series regular departure can reshape ensemble dynamics for viewers who follow the Intelligence Unit’s team structure and storylines.
  • The reported early-episode return suggests the show intends to provide an on-screen resolution rather than an abrupt exit.
  • The change also affects casting and production planning for Season 14, including how the new series regular is integrated into ongoing case plots.
  • Because “Chicago P.D.” is distributed across NBC and Peacock on a set schedule, the timing of Hawkins’ final episodes has direct implications for viewer schedules and episode access.
  • Hawkins’ exit comes after character developments tied to major personal stakes in Season 13, which can influence how the series handles continuity into Season 14.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Deadline reports that LaRoyce Hawkins will leave NBC’s “Chicago P.D.” as a series regular for Season 14 after 13 seasons.
  • Deadline reports Hawkins will return to wrap up Kevin Atwater’s storyline in the first two or three episodes of Season 14.
  • Deadline reports the show is casting a new series regular and describes the role as a Black cop who is an agent of chaos, without naming anyone.
  • Wolf Entertainment’s representative declined comment to Deadline, according to the report.
  • NBC Insider states that “Chicago P.D.” Season 14 is scheduled to premiere Wednesday, October 7 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC, with new episodes available on Peacock the next day.
  • NBC Insider previously highlighted that Season 13 included a storyline in which Kevin Atwater prepares to become a father.