After more than a decade of fighting crime on the streets of Chicago, original “Chicago P.D.” cast member LaRoyce Hawkins is saying goodbye to the NBC hit.
According to Deadline, Hawkins, 38, will leave the long-running police procedural during its upcoming 14th season after portraying Officer Kevin Atwater since the series premiered in 2014.
Sources say Hawkins will appear in the first three episodes of Season 14 to conclude Atwater’s storyline before making his exit. Exactly how the beloved officer will leave the Intelligence Unit remains a closely guarded secret, and a representative for “Chicago P.D.” declined to comment on the report.
As one of the show’s original cast members, Hawkins helped shape the series from its debut. Throughout 13 seasons, fans watched Atwater evolve into one of the Intelligence Unit’s most respected officers while navigating deeply personal and emotional storylines. His journey included surviving a racially charged investigation following the accidental shooting of a young boy, becoming the legal guardian of his younger siblings before sending them to Texas for a more stable life, and recovering after being shot in the line of duty. Before joining the Intelligence Unit, Atwater also partnered with Officer Kim Burgess on patrol.
Atwater currently serves alongside Patrick John Flueger (Adam Ruzek), Marina Squerciati (Kim Burgess), Benjamin Levy Aguilar (Dante Torres), Arienne Mandi (Eve Imani), under the leadership of Sergeant Jason Beghe as Hank Voight.
Many fans believe Atwater’s departure could be tied to his relationship with Officer Tasha Fox, played by Karen Obilom. During Season 13, Tasha relocated to Miami for a new job before returning to Chicago with life-changing news—she was pregnant with Atwater’s child. While NBC has not confirmed the details of his exit, viewers are already speculating that Atwater may choose to leave Chicago behind and move to Miami to start a new chapter with Tasha and their growing family.
Hawkins has also expanded his career beyond the “One Chicago” universe with appearances in Ironheart, Power Book IV: Force, and Ballers, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
His departure continues a recent trend of cast changes on the series. Toya Turner exited ahead of Season 13 after portraying Officer Kiana Cook for one season, while Tracy Spiridakos (Detective Hailey Upton) departed after Season 11 and Jesse Lee Soffer (Detective Jay Halstead) left following Season 10.
“Chicago P.D.” Season 14 is scheduled to premiere on Wednesday, October 7, and while fans will undoubtedly miss Officer Kevin Atwater, many are eager to see what’s next for LaRoyce Hawkins. After 13 memorable seasons, his impact on the series is undeniable, and viewers are looking forward to watching him take on exciting new television and film projects in the years ahead.
Best of luck to LaRoyce Hawkins on the next chapter of his career. His portrayal of Kevin Atwater has been one of the defining performances of “Chicago P.D.,” and fans will undoubtedly be watching to see where he goes next.
